Suspect Arrested After Death Threats Target Madison Heights Mosque as Security Concerns Grow

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. — A suspect has been arrested after the American Islamic Community Center in Madison Heights, Michigan received multiple threatening voicemails containing explicit death threats and anti-Muslim hate speech, prompting a swift law enforcement response and renewed concern about the safety of houses of worship across the United States.

According to the Madison Heights Police Department, the mosque received two threatening voicemail messages on Sunday, June 28, containing death threats directed at the congregation along with anti-Muslim slurs. Officers immediately opened an investigation, increased patrols around the mosque, and identified a suspect, who was arrested on June 30. The case has since been forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for possible criminal charges.

"The Madison Heights Police Department takes hate crimes very seriously and remains committed to supporting and protecting all religious and ethnic groups within our city."

The department also noted that investigators remained in close communication with mosque leadership throughout the investigation.

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) welcomed the arrest and praised law enforcement for acting quickly.

"We welcome the swift action taken by law enforcement to investigate these alleged death threats against congregants of the Madison Heights mosque," said CAIR Michigan Executive Director Dawud Walid. "Nothing justifies making death threats against any faith community in our state or nation."

CAIR Michigan also encouraged mosques and Islamic centers to review available security resources and noted that its latest national civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints during 2025, the highest annual total since the organization began tracking incidents nearly three decades ago.

Growing Focus on Mosque Security

The incident comes amid heightened concern about threats targeting Muslim communities during major religious observances. In recent months, the Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) has significantly expanded its work with government agencies and elected officials to strengthen mosque security and improve coordination between public safety officials and Muslim communities.

Earlier this year, SMF launched a comprehensive Muharram 2026 Operational Awareness Initiative, distributing detailed public safety briefings to law enforcement agencies, emergency management officials, homeland security personnel, and elected leaders throughout Maryland and Virginia. The materials explained Shia religious observances, large gatherings, mosque activities, and operational considerations to help prevent misunderstandings and improve preparedness during one of the largest annual periods of Muslim worship.

The Foundation has also participated in Department of Homeland Security security briefings focused on protecting houses of worship, advocated for expanded security resources for mosques, and met with members of Congress and the U.S. Senate to discuss federal coordination on mosque safety. Recent meetings have included discussions with Congressman Jamie Raskin regarding FBI coordination for mosque security and a historic meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen and his national security staff focused on protecting American Shia communities.

These efforts followed months of outreach by SMF to police departments, homeland security officials, emergency managers, and other government partners before Muharram and Ashura observances across Maryland and Virginia. The initiative contributed to the peaceful completion of hundreds of Shia religious gatherings without significant security incidents throughout the region.

SMF Statement

"The arrest in Madison Heights demonstrates why threats against houses of worship must always be treated seriously," said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. "Every American deserves to practice their faith without intimidation or fear. We commend the Madison Heights Police Department for its swift response and thank law enforcement officers who worked quickly to identify and arrest a suspect. This incident also reinforces the importance of proactive partnerships between faith communities and public safety agencies. Education, communication, and preparation remain among the strongest tools available to protect religious freedom and keep our communities safe."

The Shia Muslim Foundation stands in solidarity with the American Islamic Community Center, its leadership, and its congregation. SMF also encourages mosques and Islamic centers nationwide to maintain strong relationships with local law enforcement, review emergency response plans, and continue sharing information with public safety partners to help safeguard their communities.

Shia Muslim Foundation Commends Senator Gary Peters for Continued Recognition of Muharram and Ashura

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) commends U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) for continuing his public recognition of Muharram and Ashura, reaffirming his support for Michigan's Muslim community and the enduring values represented by the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS).

On June 25, 2026, Senator Peters shared the following message on X in observance of Ashura:

"Wishing peace to all Michiganders observing Ashura today. I hope this solemn day provides you and your loved ones with strength, faith, and time to reflect on stories of profound courage."

The statement continues a pattern of recognizing this sacred period. On July 31, 2023, Senator Peters publicly acknowledged the historical sacrifices of the holy month of Muharram.

On July 16, 2024, he again recognized Muharram, wishing Muslims in Michigan and across the country a meaningful time of reflection during the holy month. These consecutive statements demonstrate an ongoing recognition of an observance that is rarely acknowledged by members of the United States Senate.

Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (AS), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE after refusing to submit to tyranny and injustice. His sacrifice remains one of history's most enduring symbols of moral courage and principled resistance to oppression. Millions of Americans and Muslims around the world commemorate Ashura each year through mourning, reflection, prayer, charitable service, and community gatherings.

Beyond his public recognition of Muharram and Ashura, Senator Peters has been a longstanding advocate for protecting houses of worship from violence. He authored bipartisan legislation that strengthened and reauthorized the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program, helping churches, synagogues, mosques, gurdwaras, and other faith-based institutions obtain federal funding for security improvements, emergency preparedness, and training. He has also repeatedly secured increased funding for the program and supported legislation such as the Pray Safe Act to improve access to security resources for houses of worship facing rising threats from hate-motivated violence.

"Senator Peters has demonstrated a meaningful commitment to recognizing the significance of Muharram and Ashura while also taking concrete legislative action to protect houses of worship from targeted violence," said SMF Executive Director Rahat Husain. "At a time when mosques and other religious institutions continue to face threats motivated by hatred and extremism, his leadership on strengthening the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and supporting the safety of faith communities has benefited Americans of every religion. We thank Senator Peters for continuing to recognize Imam Hussain's timeless message of courage, justice, and sacrifice, and for helping protect the freedom of all Americans to worship safely."

Senator Peters has represented Michigan in the United States Senate since 2015. Michigan is home to one of the largest and most active Muslim communities in the United States, including a vibrant Shia Muslim population that has made lasting contributions to the state's civic, economic, and cultural life.

The Shia Muslim Foundation thanks Senator Peters for his continued recognition of Muharram and Ashura and for his longstanding efforts to help safeguard religious communities across the United States.

Related Statements

• June 25, 2026 Ashura message: https://x.com/SenGaryPeters/status/2070137125903692122

• July 16, 2024 Muharram message: https://x.com/SenGaryPeters/status/1813327942367474045

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American Shia Muslims Mourn Ashura, Honoring the Martyrdom of Imam al-Husain at Karbala

June 25, 2026

WASHINGTON DC -- On this day, June 25, 2026, corresponding to the 10th of Muharram 1448 AH, the Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) solemnly commemorates Ashura, the most sacred day of mourning in the Shia Muslim tradition. Ashura marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam al-Husain ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, and all who stood with him on the plains of Karbala in the year 680 CE.

The Historical Event

The events that culminated in the tragedy of Karbala began with a demand. Yazid ibn Muawiyah, who had assumed leadership of the Muslim world through dynastic succession rather than the consultative or divinely guided process affirmed by Islamic teaching, required that Imam al-Husain publicly pledge his allegiance. For Imam al-Hussain, this was not simply a political question. Yazid's governance was marked by open corruption, the abandonment of Islamic ethical standards, and the suppression of dissent. To endorse him, even in form, would have been to betray the religion his grandfather had brought to humanity.

Imam al-Husain refused. He traveled from Medina to Mecca and ultimately toward Kufa in Iraq, where a large number of Muslims had written to him pledging their support. But before he could reach Kufa, his small group, consisting of approximately 72 companions and fighters along with women and children from the Prophet's household, was intercepted by an army of thousands sent by Yazid's governor, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad.

For three days leading up to Ashura, Imam al-Husain's camp was denied access to the waters of the Euphrates River. On the morning of the 10th of Muharram, facing impossible odds and knowing the outcome, Imam al-Hussain and his companions stood their ground. One by one, his companions and then the male members of his family went into battle and were killed. Imam al-Hussain himself was the last to fall. His head was taken and displayed, and the women and children of the Prophet's family were marched as prisoners to Kufa and then to Damascus.

The Significance of Ashura for Shia Muslims

For Shia Muslims, Ashura is not merely a historical commemoration. It is a living spiritual reality. The sacrifice of Imam al-Hussain is understood as the ultimate expression of the Islamic principle of Amr bil Maruf wa Nahy an al-Munkar, enjoining good and forbidding evil, even when doing so requires the ultimate sacrifice. Imam al-Husain himself is reported to have declared before the battle: "I do not see death except as happiness, and living with oppressors except as misery."

This conviction, that principled resistance to tyranny is a sacred obligation, is the lesson that Shia Muslims draw from Karbala and carry into every generation. It is why Ashura is observed with such intensity of mourning. The grief is not merely for a man who died fourteen centuries ago. It is grief for what was lost when the voice of justice was silenced, and a renewal of commitment that such silence will not be repeated.

The Voice of Lady Zainab

The narrative of Ashura is inseparable from the role of Lady Zainab bint Ali, sister of Imam al-Husain and daughter of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima al-Zahra. Following the battle, it was Lady Zainab who preserved and transmitted the message of Karbala. Taken as a prisoner before Yazid in his palace in Damascus, she delivered a courageous and eloquent address condemning his tyranny and refusing to be broken. Shia tradition regards her as the true voice of Karbala, the one who ensured that the sacrifice of Imam al-Hussain would not be erased from history.

How Ashura Is Observed

On and around the day of Ashura, Shia Muslims gather for the most intense of the Muharram Majalis, assemblies of remembrance. Eulogies, elegies, and sermons retell the events of Karbala in detail, and communities mourn together. Many Shia Muslims fast on the day of Ashura, though this practice is observed differently across communities and scholarly traditions. In various parts of the world, processions and public expressions of mourning are held, which may include the symbolic beating of the chest as a communal expression of grief.

The Shia Muslim Foundation recognizes that these expressions of mourning, which may appear intense or unfamiliar to those outside the tradition, are deeply meaningful acts of spiritual solidarity with the martyrs of Karbala and with the values they gave their lives to uphold. We invite our fellow Americans to approach this day with openness and respect.

Ashura as a Universal Message

The story of Karbala transcends the boundaries of faith. It is a story about a small group of people who refused to normalize injustice, who chose conscience over survival, and who paid the ultimate price for doing so. It is a story that has inspired not only Shia Muslims but thinkers, activists, and leaders across history and across cultures who have drawn courage from Imam al-Hussain's example.

On this day of Ashura, the Shia Muslim Foundation stands with all those who carry the memory of Imam al-Hussain in their hearts, and with all who are committed to the values of justice, dignity, and moral courage that his sacrifice continues to illuminate.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a national organization dedicated to the civic, legal, and community advancement of Shia Muslims in the United States. SMF engages with government officials, civil society, and interfaith partners to ensure that the voices and rights of Shia American communities are represented and protected.