What the heck is going on? Are “Death to Islam” signs all the rage these days? First you had a bar in Pennsylvania putting up such signs and now you have a Bosnian Muslim community center vandalized in Spokane, Washington with the same hate message. Coincidentally, this also comes on the heels of the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica in which 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed. When are Islamophobes going to get more creative and change up the hate message?
#CAIR-WA: Interfaith Leaders to Seek Federal Hate Crime Probe of ‘Death to Islam’ Vandalism Targeting Spokane Muslim Community Center
Leaders say incident is part of nationwide rise in hate crimes targeting American Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim
(SPOKANE, WA, 7/8/2015) – On Thursday, July 9, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), along with local Muslim, interfaith and community leaders, will hold a news conference to call on state law enforcement authorities and the FBI to investigate apparently bias-motivated vandalism targeting the Bosnia Herzegovina Heritage Association of Spokane.
The phrase “Death to Islam” was spray-painted on the exterior of the center, which is being used for Muslim prayers during the month-long fast of Ramadan, possibly while congregants were performing the evening prayers on Saturday, July 4. Worshipers saw the graffiti when they exited the center.
WHAT: Interfaith and Community Leaders to Seek Federal Hate Crime Investigation of Vandalism Targeting Spokane Muslim Community Center
WHEN: Thursday, July 9, 10:45 a.m.
WHERE: Bosnia Herzegovina Heritage Association of Spokane, 2110 East Broadway Avenue, Suite B, Spokane, WA 99202
CONTACT: CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, 206-931-3655, abukhari@cair.com
The incident appears to fit a pattern of increased hate-motivated crimes nationwide targeting persons and property associated, or perceived to be associated, with Islam and the American Muslim community.