Replies

From the state web site, www.myflorida.com:

Governor Conference Call

TALLAHASSEE—Governor Jeb Bush today held a conference call with Islamic community leaders in Florida who have expressed concerns for the safety of their children and those who visit Islamic centers and mosques. The Governor was joined on the call by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Tim Moore.

“People should not have a fear of expressing their faith. Those who send their children to religious schools or who pray at mosques, synagogues or churches have every right to practice their religion in a peaceful and safe environment,” said Governor Bush. “My message today is to assure all Floridians that persecution of people based on their faith or nationality will not be tolerated.”

In light of the recent arrest of Dr. Robert Goldstein of Tampa, Governor Bush has directed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to contact mosques and Islamic centers throughout the Tampa region and statewide. Through Regional Domestic Security Task Forces, FDLE agents, local law enforcement officers, and ATF agents will make personal contact with the leadership of the mosques and the leadership of each Islamic center to advise that there is no imminent threat on the Islamic community. The Task Forces will make physical security assessments of mosques upon request.

FDLE has also reached out to Altaf Ali, Executive Director for the Center on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Derick Daniel, Executive Director of the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR), to inform them of our efforts and to assure them that there is no credible information of any conspiracies against Islamic centers in the state.

FDLE is currently assisting the ATF and the FBI in the investigation of Goldstein. Goldstein was taken into custody Aug. 22 after officers from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office entered his home, upon his mother’s request, and found several firearms, explosives, and documentation regarding Islamic centers.

# # #