The FBI should investigate the death of a Yermo, Calif. imam as a potential hate crime after the Muslim religious leader's body was discovered inside a burned-down residence this past weekend.
Ali Mohammed, the founder of a Yermo mosque, went to the nearby house on Saturday to clean up hate graffiti written inside before he was killed in an explosion, family members said.
The house was once occupied by Mohammed and his family, but they were forced to move out recently becase of alleged anti-Muslim harassment and prejudice by people in the area. One person suspected of harassing the family was sent to prison in 2008 according to area officials.
Police in the area are calling the explosion and fire "suspicious" but have not yet made a determination as to the cause. An autopsy on Mohammed was expected to be performed on Thursday.
Imam Ali Mohammed was regarded as a respected community leader who had helped establish other mosques in the area.
The mosque founded by the imam and located near the burned house was also the target of an arson attack in 2007.
Nazi swastikas, American symbols and racial epithets were spraypainted on the walls of the home two days before it burned down, according to Ali Mohammed's son. PHOTOS: Mohammed family.
Graffiti written on the walls inside the house before the fire that killed Mohammed reportedly said: "F*** you Arab," "KKK, sand n**er," "go home Arab" with American flags and a Nazi swastika also drawn on the walls.
"My father was a deeply caring person who worked toward building peace, unity and harmony among residents of the High Desert," said Hadie Mohammed, the imam's son. "During this time of immense grief, my family is grateful for the condolences and community support and pray that those who committed this horrific crime will face justice."
The incident is another in a wave potential hate crimes.
Earlier this month a mosque in Cypress, Calif. was vandalized with graffiti, stating "F**k You, "we're going to kill you," and "US Military is going to kill you all."
Police are treating the vandalism at the Cypress mosque as a hate crime.
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=USA&article=2306
No comments:
Post a Comment