Only Muslim headstones in the cemetery were targeted by vandals leading family members to suspect a hate crime was involved.
(SEATTLE, WA, 11/21/14) — The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) today called on law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism targeting a Muslim cemetery as a possible hate crime.
Headstones bearing the Islamic star and crescent and Arabic inscriptions were vandalized earlier this week at the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Washington State’s cemetery near Maltby, Wash. Community members say the Christian section of the cemetery was not vandalized.
“Because the perpetrators of this desecration appear to have targeted only the Muslim graves, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate this troubling incident as a possible hate crime,” said CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari.