Posted: 7/11/2005 9:23:26 PM EDT
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The FBI is investigating an apparent arson at a mosque in Bloomington as a possible hate crime, an agency spokeswoman said. A burned Quran was found outside the mosque, said Nathan Ainslie, president of the Islamic Center of Bloomington. No one was inside the mosque when the fire occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday, he said. A passerby noticed the blaze and the fire was extinguished before doing any major damage. Damage was confined to the kitchen area, Ainslie said. FBI Special Agent Wendy Osborne said FBI agents and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force were investigating the incident as a hate crime. FBI officials were on the scene of the crime inside of an hour after it was discovered. "The FBI takes hate crimes and acts of violence very seriously," she said in a phone interview. Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the timing of the fire was "suspicious" following so soon after Thursday's bombings in London that killed at least 49 people. The Plainfield-based Islamic Center of North America issued a statement Thursday condemning the London bombings. Hooper said his group, based in Washington, had received hate e-mail and phone calls since Thursday. Osborne declined to speculate whether the fire might have related to the events in London, and Ainslie said he was not sure. "Whether somebody was angry over those attacks and decided to take it out on us, we don't know," Ainslie said. "This is an attack really on the sanctity of religion. This is our sacred space, just as a church is a sacred space for a Christian, or a synagogue for a Jew. An attack on this type of sacred space should be shaking to everyone." The mosque had not received any threats, and Ainslie said its 200-plus members generally have a good relationship with the Bloomington community, which is home to Indiana University's main campus. He said the mosque was planning a meeting of its members Saturday to discuss the proper response to the arson, and likely would hold an open house in about two weeks. Sayyid M. Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America, said this was a time for people of various faiths to come together, as he was certain they would. "This kind of action here in America, it only reinforces our collective commitment to maintain our solidarity and understanding," he said. Hooper said the council also was investigating reports that an Islamic prayer area in a Houston medical center was defaced on Friday. Hate crimes against Muslims rose 52 percent to 141 last year compared with 2003, and civil rights violations reported to the council jumped 49 percent to 1,522, the group said in a report released in May. |
Of course not. I also dont believe every Muslim wants me dead, I dont believe every illegal is here to leech off the system and I dont believe all gun rights should be reinstated. Hence the winky. Well, that and your really sexy and I wanted to wink at you. 
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Sorry BK, but until they start outing the terrorists in their fold, they are all suspect. What we hear is that WE are the intolerant ones, but the reality of it is that THEY are the intolerant ones. Do you have any idea how many terrorist orginazition have operatives in the DC area? Just about all of them. The local islamic center here was raided, and several members were arrested for links to other terrorists. They don't want to be bashed, but they remain silent on the issue, which in my book is paramount to endorsement. BUt I do not to bash them on the boards..... |
| I sure would prefer to see undercover investigations, followed by an application of the criminal justice system, rather than chickenshit vigilante bullshit. Vigilantism has its place, but this kind of crap gives it a bad name. I hope any and all terrorists, supporters and enablers are caught, rounded up and ruthlessly dealt with. This kind of thing gives no indication of any crimes having been committed--hence my disdain. |
Perhaps the more important question is... Would you be willing to assume a mosque is innocent until proven guilty, and risk having a school massacre take place here like it did in Russia? |
Of course--it's called the "rule of law." Geez, think about it--as you are here, you probably own firearms. Should we burn you and your house up in order to keep you from "going postal?" 
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After the coming NBC attack, GWB or his replacement will say "We will track these criminals down and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Remain calm, all is well". Joe Sixpack, like he did in the Revolutionary War, WWI, and WWII will put down his tools, pick up a rifle and kill those who are a threat to his family, friends and country. Unfortunately, because of an utter lack of evidence to prove otherwise, those of a religion who can not be named will be the targets. Since our Government refuses to address the problem now when it can be done with a minimal loss of life, it will be done later at huge cost. Matthew |