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AG files civil rights charges in Lewiston mosque incident
Portland (Maine) Press Herald ^ | 21 July, 2006 | Josie Huang

Posted on 07/21/2006 10:46:00 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo

A second legal complaint filed against the man accused of rolling a frozen pig's head into a Lewiston mosque is raising the question: Will there be a third?

Thursday's decision by the Maine Attorney General's Office to prosecute Brent Matthews of Lewiston on civil rights violations has mosque members hoping that the federal government will follow.

Local prosecutors at the Androscoggin District Attorney's Office first charged Matthews, 33, with the misdemeanor crime of desecrating a place of worship.

The state, in its civil lawsuit filed Thursday in Superior Court in Auburn, claims Matthews broke the law because his alleged action targeted Somali and Muslim residents and was motivated by bias based on "race, color, ancestry, national origin and religion."

The complaint pointed out that Matthews has admitted rolling the pig's head into the mosque on July 3, calling it a joke. It also said Matthews has demonstrated anti-Somali bias. He displayed an anti-immigrant bumper sticker on his car, according to the Maine Attorney General's Office, although Matthews' lawyer disputes that.

Federal hate crime prosecutions in Maine are rare, but Abdi Sheikh was hopeful that an FBI investigation into the mosque incident would lead the U.S. Attorney in Portland to press charges.

"I think it will send a powerful message to Mr. Matthews and others who may want to do harm either to the Islamic community or any other community," said Sheikh, the administrative head of the Lewiston Auburn Islamic Center.

U.S. Attorney Paula Silsby was out of the office Thursday, according to an assistant, and could not be reached for comment.

James Howaniec, Matthews' attorney, expressed frustration at the possibility of a third complaint.

"I've been doing this for over 20 years now and I've never seen three prosecutors' offices attempting to get their hands on a misdemeanor charge like they have with this case," Howaniec said.

Matthews has pleaded not guilty to the desecration charge. He faces up to a year in jail if found guilty of that charge and up to $5,000 in fines if he is convicted in the state's civil lawsuit.

In addition to the fines, the state is asking the court to permanently bar Matthews from having contact with the mosque, and to require him to obey the Maine Civil Rights Act.

If Matthews were to subsequently violate the civil rights act, he could be charged with violating the injunction, which is a crime punishable by up to a year in jail.

In a statement issued Thursday, Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe said that Matthews committed "a threat of violence" that violated the First Amendment right to freedom of religion and resulted in property damage when the pig's head hit the carpet of the mosque.

"One only need listen to the members of the mosque to realize the pain that this incident caused and the fear that it fostered," Rowe said in a prepared statement.

Pig and pork products are considered dirty in Islamic culture, so some of the 26 men praying fled when the pig's head was tossed into the sanctuary at around 10 p.m. One 11-year-old boy fainted after seeing what happened, according to the state's complaint.

Police later removed the pig's head. Mosque members considered replacing the carpet, but found the cost too high. Instead, they cordoned off part of the sullied area and rented professional carpet-cleaning equipment to wash and dry the carpet seven times in accordance with Islamic religious practice.

For added security, the mosque closed the front and back entryways, despite the warm weather, to prevent non-worshipers from entering, the complaint said.

Attendance at the mosque dropped off in the days after the incident, but the numbers are returning to normal, Sheikh said. A sense of fear about "what could happen next" persists, though.

"Some people were afraid to pray because if someone could throw a pig's head, what could be next?" Sheikh said.

Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay maintained Thursday that the pig's head incident, while unfortunate, was isolated. He stopped short of calling Matthews' alleged act a civil rights violation.

"I don't have an opinion one way or another," Guay said. "If the Attorney General's Office is calling it a violation of civil rights, I guess that's what we're going to have go with."

Also on Thursday, Matthews successfully petitioned for changes to his bail conditions. Initially, Matthews was prohibited from going to the mosque or having any contact with Somalis, which Howaniec argued was too broad a restriction. Now he is allowed to travel within a two-block radius of the mosque on the city's main drag, Lisbon Street.

A restriction against the consumption of alcohol was also lifted because there was no evidence that it was involved in the pig's head incident, Howaniec said.

He said his client has sought counseling, at his suggestion. Matthews, he said, believes he lost his part-time job as a result of the furor over the pig's head incident.

"I don't think 'depressed' is the right word, but he's definitely very discouraged by the course this case has taken," Howaniec said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: amedal; andthereisnocrime; dhimmi; hatecrime; lewiston; maine; mosque; muslim; pig; somali
Ok, the guy was an idiot but this is a bit much. Gosh, what if I walked past the place eating a bacon cheeseburger and let a piece drop?
1 posted on 07/21/2006 10:46:05 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
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To: NewHampshireDuo

Too much! For cryin' out loud, islamics ARE NOT a protected species. Overkill is overkill.


2 posted on 07/21/2006 10:49:31 AM PDT by lilylangtree
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To: NewHampshireDuo

What are the root causes? Did they ever stop to ask why they are hated?


3 posted on 07/21/2006 10:52:36 AM PDT by aynrandfreak (The Left hates America)
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To: aynrandfreak

But Gays can throw condoms at newly ordained priests.


4 posted on 07/21/2006 10:55:16 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: NewHampshireDuo

What a stupid thing to do.

However, I hate it when I hear attorneys, who should know better, conflate legal theories the way Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe did when he said that Matthews committed "a threat of violence" that violated the First Amendment right to freedom of religion and resulted in property damage when the pig's head hit the carpet of the mosque.

The First Amendment applies to government action, not some stupid private action of vandalism. How can a private person violate another private person's First Amendment rights? The First Amendment begins "The government shall . . . "

Furthermore, if it is an act of property damage it is vandalism, not a threat of violence. Where is the threat of violence? Was there a note attached? Why do we have to attribute a unspoken message to an act of vandalism?


5 posted on 07/21/2006 10:55:29 AM PDT by TSchmereL ("Rust but terrify.")
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To: NewHampshireDuo
"Some people were afraid to pray because if someone could throw a pig's head, what could be next?" Sheikh said.

What could be next? Maybe a Muslim sawing off the head of a reporter while chanting "God is great".

Oops, too late - already happened.

6 posted on 07/21/2006 10:55:50 AM PDT by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: aynrandfreak

The Somalis in Lewiston Maine are a blight on the community. They are all on welfare and just hang around all day.


7 posted on 07/21/2006 10:57:40 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: TSchmereL

CORRECTION:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


8 posted on 07/21/2006 10:59:54 AM PDT by TSchmereL ("Rust but terrify.")
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To: NewHampshireDuo
Matthews broke the law because his alleged action targeted Somali and Muslim residents and was motivated by bias based on "race, color, ancestry, national origin and religion."

OK! Each time I am called an infidel, that is a hate crime. The peole that wear towels on their heads are going to change the United States as we now know it. The assault on Christmas is already here. Muslims want our prosperity but not our culture. Islam and Democracy are diametrically opposed.

The Jews that immigrated to the United States accepted our culture and became Americans, the Muslims won't.

9 posted on 07/21/2006 11:00:41 AM PDT by BIGZ
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To: massgopguy

These are the same bastards that were desecrating our soldiers in the "Black Hawk Down" incident in Somalia. Why are the dumbocraps in Maine kissing their black sorry asses? It is time to run their rag head asses back to islamiville!


10 posted on 07/21/2006 11:03:59 AM PDT by Lewite (Praise YAHWEH and Proclaim His Wonderful Name! Islam, the end time Beast-the harlot of Babylon.)
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To: NewHampshireDuo
"Some people were afraid to pray because if someone could throw a pig's head, what could be next?" Sheikh said

Boo Hoo....Try riding on a bus, train or plane with Muslims wearing backpacks...
11 posted on 07/21/2006 11:06:52 AM PDT by Dallas59
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To: massgopguy

The Communist Gov of Maine thrust a couple of thousand Mohammedans in to a rather Insular community of French Canadians for the most part, and extracted a lot of money from the poorest State in the Union and expected no reaction?


12 posted on 07/21/2006 11:09:03 AM PDT by Little Bill (A 37%'r, a Red Spot on a Blue State, rats are evil.)
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To: NewHampshireDuo
"Maine Attorney General's Office to prosecute Brent Matthews of Lewiston on civil rights violations"

This Civil Rights Violation crap is gone way over the edge....

Yes, he should be charged with civil disobedience or something along the lines of prankster-like, but to make a Federal Case out of such acts is bullsh#t.

13 posted on 07/21/2006 11:46:33 AM PDT by traditional1
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To: NewHampshireDuo

"He displayed an anti-immigrant bumper sticker on his car, according to the Maine Attorney General's Office, although Matthews' lawyer disputes that. "

You don't suppose that rises to the level of a criminal act now, do you, or should you?


14 posted on 07/21/2006 11:51:51 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: NewHampshireDuo
"Some people were afraid to pray because if someone could throw a pig's head, what could be next?" Sheikh said."

the feet?

15 posted on 07/21/2006 12:40:22 PM PDT by TheCrusader
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To: NewHampshireDuo

notice how the "system" is moving en masse to destroy this guy. yet, do we see a concerted effort to root out islamic extremeism inside the US, masquerading as "charities" and religious organizations? only occasionally, for fear of being "insensitive" and "intolerant".


16 posted on 07/21/2006 12:46:05 PM PDT by oceanview
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