The Council on American-Islamic Relations, (CAIR) the largest Islamic civil liberties group in the US, is reporting that hate-crimes against Muslim Americans are on the rise again. A number of anti-Muslim incidents have been reported recently across the United States.

Just this week, Abdullah Naderi, a 37-year-old Afghanistan native was attacked at his restaurant in Indianapolis.

According to media reports, Naderi told officials he was cleaning up in the kitchen when two people burst in and set him on fire.

Naderi suffered second- and third-degree burns on 60 percent of his body and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Inside the restaurant, investigators found three 2 1/2-gallon gasoline cans, a pry bar, rope, aerosol cans and a disposable lighter.

Fire and police investigators say there is an ongoing investigation and that no possible motive is being ruled out.

CAIR is attributing the current spate of hate-crimes to the pro-war rhetoricleading up to the attack on Iraq, coupled with existing levels of anti-Muslim bias in American society.

• Hodan Hassan,, Spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).