The Council on American-Islamic Relations called Tuesday on federal law enforcement authorities to bring charges against the man who allegedly shot to death an Indiana Muslim, reportedly while shouting Islamophobic slurs.

CAIR is also calling on Indiana lawmakers to pass a hate crime law that would address such incidents.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, 32-year-old Mustafa Ayoubi was shot Saturday evening following an incident that began on I-465. Three friends who reportedly witnessed the shooting say it was a hate crime.

They said they heard the suspect, 33-year-old Dustin Passarelli of Plainfield shouting anti-Muslim slurs in the moments before shooting Ayoubi.

“Because there is no hate crime law in Indiana, it is imperative that federal charges be considered in this tragic case,” said CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri. “This tragedy shows why Indiana lawmakers must address the lack of hate crime legislation in the state.”

She noted that Indiana is one of just five states without a hate crime law.

The Washington-based civil rights organization has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims.