Replies

Adelanto mosque fire investigated as possible arson or hate crime

The Associated Press

http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/5574545p-5545767c.html

ADELANTO, Calif. (AP) - Investigators probing a fire that gutted the United Islamic Youth Organization mosque believe it was possibly an arson or hate crime, authorities said.

"We can't rule that out until we look at everything," said San Bernardino County Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez. She added that federal investigators had been called to the scene.

The fire occurred early Friday in this high desert city, which is the site of the only cemetery in Southern California built exclusively for Muslims.

The fire was considered suspicious because the 1,500-square-foot mosque did not have electricity or gas service, which ruled out those causes.

A truck driver reported the blaze about 4:24 a.m. Friday and firefighters arrived in 20 minutes to find the mosque in flames, Martinez said. Only two walls remained standing and Korans and prayer rugs were destroyed in the fire, said Seyed Mousavi, a mosque board member.

"The only thing we're afraid of is that someone who doesn't like Muslims found out this is the only Islamic cemetery in the U.S.," Mousavi said.

The mosque served as a spiritual center for visitors to the cemetery of 600 graves, which all face toward Mecca.

"The significance of that cemetery is great to Muslims in Southern California, and if this is arson, that's a big insult to our community," said Mustafa Kuko, director of the Islamic Center of Riverside. "The Muslim looks at the mosque as a home. They don't have all the clues yet, but it's like someone has burned down one of our homes."

A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Southern California called for the FBI to investigate the blaze as a possible hate crime.

"We pray that the perpetrators, whatever their motive, are caught and brought to justice," said communications director Sabiha Khan.