Posted on 02/08/2006 7:29:25 AM PST by kinghorse
Muslims say sign left near mosque was hate crime Police note the message was found on public property, making it hard to classify
By ROSANNA RUIZ Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Islamic leaders are outraged that a sign with anti-Muslim sentiments left near a southeast Houston mosque will not likely be pursued by authorities as a hate crime.
The large plywood sign, written in black crayon, labeled Muslims as the enemy and included a bearded character representing the Prophet Muhammad.
It was discovered Monday evening near the mosque in the 8800 block of Old Galveston Road.
The sign had been placed against a fence considered public property by Houston investigators. If the sign had been left on the mosque's property, authorities said, it would be more likely considered a hate crime.
"The suspect would have been on public property when the sign was placed and did not cross onto (the mosque's) property as far as we can tell. It's currently under investigation to determine whether it should be classified as a hate crime," said Nat McDuell, a Houston Police Department spokesman.
"Right now, investigators are having trouble finding the crime," McDuell said. "They may have the hate, but they don't have the crime."
Imam Zoubir Bouchikhi, the mosque's leader and the one who made the discovery, questioned why authorities are not taking action.
"What are they waiting for? A major crime (before) they take action?" he asked. "This, to me, is absurd. ... In light of what's going on in the world, I think they should take very strict action against the people who did this."
Kaleem Siddiqui, spokesman for the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, was also troubled by HPD's investigation.
He speculated that the sign may have been prompted by the uproar, including riots in the Muslim world, over the publication of some Danish political cartoons satirizing Muhammad.
"It's unfortunate that a technicality could change the classification of the intent," Siddiqui said. "It's the same intent whether it was on the property or right next to the property."
Siddiqui called on the FBI to investigate the incident as a hate crime.
FBI not involved yet The FBI has thus far not initiated an investigation, said Shauna Dunlap, FBI spokeswoman in Houston. Dunlap said no one from HPD or CAIR has contacted the FBI.
She agreed with HPD's assessment, saying that legally proving a hate crime would be more difficult given the sign's placement.
"It does make it more difficult," she said. "It's a lot more difficult to show who was the intended victim."
The Texas Hate Crime Act defines hate crimes as crimes motivated by prejudice and hatred.
The federal law defines hate crimes as crimes committed based upon prejudice, race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or diversity.
"I'm actually surprised to see something like this here. Houston is a very diverse city and we tend not to have too many issues," Siddiqui said.
"We would like to basically call upon all Americans to recognize the existence of other faiths and we hope we can all be respectful and get along."
"In this sense, a strong showing from Hamas, even its assumption of power would likely be the best thing that could happen to what remains of the peace process."
Yeah, praise be to Hamas - those champions of peace.
Yes, but the words "hate crime" are equally ridiculous. All crimes are hate crimes! Multiculturalism is wrecking the nation. Everyone is a victim nowdays. (I am too! People beat me in tennis and I don't like it, therefore it's a hate crime)
Nine Southern Baptist churches burned...I haven't heard that called a "hate crime" by the media. They keep saying the arson was to "cover up evidence of burglary."
But a sign near a mosque...
"What are they waiting for? A major crime (before) they take action?" he asked. "This, to me, is absurd. ... In light of what's going on in the world, I think they should take very strict action against the people who did this."
Ironic statement since they're the ones committing all the violence.
As we can see by the various reactions throughout the world, the protestors believe that expressing hate, or disrespect to Islam, or even simply disrespect to the rules of Islam are all in and of themseles crimes. To this imam's mind, a hate crime is not a crime that was excaberated by hate; hate towards Islam is in and of itself a crime, and should be punished by the civil authority.
There have been various statements by Islamic authorities to the effect that freedom of speech does not include freedom to insult or show disrespect towards another's religion. I suspect that they are only including religions other than Islam to try to make their viewpoint more palatable to the West; I would doubt there's any such ecumenicalism in their own countries' laws, or at least in the way those laws are enforced. But that's beside the point; the real issue is that they don't accept the proposition that if you are not free to criticize, or insult, or be rude, or dissaprove, or even to express hate, then you don't have freedom of speech at all.
It is my G-d given right to say what I want about Bible thumping Southern Baptists, pedophile Catholics, Mormons with 20 wives, bike riding Jehovah's Witnesses, kung fu fighting Buddhists, sun worshipping Shintos, Yarmulka wearing Jews, and towel headed Muslims.
The writers of the Constitution agreed too and even wrote an amendment specifically protecting that G-d given right. Any 'religion' that would attempt to deprive me of that right is an enemy of the Constitution, plain and simple.
-"It's unfortunate that a technicality could change the classification of the intent," Siddiqui said.-
Hmm...when a muSlum female is raped, she gets the blame for it on a technicality. Or, is that be a bad example, Sickdicky?
It's just like the Koran, Mister Mullah, which teaches the hate of Jews and infidels. Islam is replete with hate. That is unfortunate and despicable, but it's not a crime.
This is obviously politically incorrect commentary on muzzie cartoon rage - a sign in black crayon...that is kind of funny in a twisted way.
1. An American should be proud of their country.
2. There is no such thing as a hyphenated American.
3. Americans learned nothing from the Arab oil embargo-70's.
4. Cartoons are just that-cartoons.
5. Have you gun safe filled.
Class dismissed.
LOL! "Black crayon?" "Black crayon?" Dang, I completely missed that laugh! :0)
Nah, you're just being economical with your e's. I've been known to hoard them on occasion myself. Never know when you need an extra.
"Nah, you're just being economical with your e's. "
Yah! Yah! That's it!(I would have typed 'yeah' but I'm saving up for school!):)
LOL!
This statement is a threat. He is saying in effect that if something isn't done we could have riots here over this sign. What pukes these muslims are.
Free speech lives in America.
We are witnessing the destruction of Western civilization by immigration. These people should never have been allowed in.
EXACTLY MamaTexan. If we allow the maggot people to wrap themselves in "hate crime" protection then we cannot call for their expulsion from this country without placing our own freedom at risk.
It is not a religion, it does not deserve the protection of a religion. I must be treated no differently than the KKK. Outlaw the KKK and Is-SLIME, NOW.
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