However this isnt a hate crime of course.
They are just misunderstood of course.
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."
It's alway the Muslims that say these cartoons represent Muhammad. Who's to say they aren't representing Osama?
Probably keeping the guns and bombs safe.
One piece of advise, Zoubir, don't try to incite riots like your brethren across the pond. Texans will not put up with that nonsense.
Just a local Imam issuing a call to arms. Nothing to see here.
What else is new?
The large plywood sign, written in black crayon, labeled Muslims as the enemy and included a bearded character representing the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Zoubir Bouchikhi, the mosque's leader and the one who made the discovery, questioned why authorities are not taking action.
Anyone else find this suspicious?
"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."
Unless you have 'insulted' your own people you have little to worry about, Imam.
Houston Chronicle, we have a problem.
How about "hate-criming" these ragheads back to the Middle East where they belong?
"What are they waiting for? A major crime (before) they take action?"
Well, yes. That's the way the police work. Perhaps more emphasis on crime prevention would prove effective - tecniques like profiling, and surveillance of known criminals and their associates. But that's not typical.
Cops react to crimes.
It's not any kind of crime. It's free speech.
The world needs to be reminded of this daily!
It depends on exactly what he was doing with them at the time.
Don't mess with Texas.
All the signs they carried last week and the guy dressed as a suicide bomber and the SOB's have the balls to bring up hate crimes??? Send the back to the Middle East.
Are they going to riot? It would be so amusing to see them try it in Texas.
I thought they were just having a 'cook out'!
:)
Yes, and 'hate crime' laws are unconstitutional, to boot.
"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.
It's always something with these guys. Always wining and bellyaching that they're victims. They probably placed the sign there themselves seeking to create a pretext to saw off someones head. The sooner cities like Houston and the US government either run these people out of the country or incarcerates them at someplace like GITMO, the better off the country will be.
LOLOLOL!!!!
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