Honorable Governor Charlie Crist
Honorable Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey
Honorable Senator Bill Nelson
Honorable Senator Mel Martinez
Honorable Congressman Vern Buchana
Dear Governor Charlie Crist
Dear Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey
Dear Senator Bill Nelson
Dear Senator Mel Martinez
Dear Congressman Vern Buchana
We would like to draw to your attention a recent hate attack against a Bosnian American family in Sarasota, Florida. A Bosnian American immigrant family was the victim of a hate crime in Sarasota, Florida on July 6, 2007. Hasib Sejfovic, his wife and two children fled to the United States to escape the 1992-1995 Serbian aggressions against Bosnia, but here they became victims again.
Criminals burned the Sejfovic home to the ground and spray painted anti-Islamic slurs on the outside and inside of the house. The attack occurred in very close proximity to the 12th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide. July 11th 1995 is the date when over 8,000 Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslim) civilians were killed in a single day by Serbian aggressors on Bosnia. Srebrenica massacre was the largest mass murder of civilians in Europe since World War II. Estimated 200,000 Bosnian civilians were killed as a result of aggression against Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1992-1995. Many of those who survived this aggression settled in the United States, where they found their new home. Please recognize this attack against Sejfovic family for the hate crime that it is, and join us in denouncing the attack.
The Congress of North American Bosniaks, as a major body representing over 350,000 Bosniak Americans, would like the perpetrators of these heinous crimes arrested and we respectfully request FBI attention to the matter.
We look forward to your response and propose a formation of an interfaith body that would support communication between various religious groups who live in Florida and the United States. We are also asking for a stronger commitment to prevention of such attacks against Muslims in Florida regardless of their national origin.
There have been several other serious incidents against Muslims in Florida and that calls for attention to this issue. We believe that by strengthening the diplomatic relations between the US and European and American Muslims will help strengthen our position with Middle East.
Please see enclosed article for more information on this unfortunate incident.
http://www.bosnjaci.net/egt.php?id=1265
Thank you for your time and your service to this great country of ours.
Sincerely;
Emir Ramic
President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks