Was it this bearded character?
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."
"muslim grievance-whores" are *outraged*, again?
Boo fricking hoo!
I may just claim that I did it myself....just to dare these ignorant whackos to do something about it....so they understand that we dont live under their Sharia law and they
dont have doodly squat to say about freedom of expression here.....god,how I would love to be hauled into court on this
Was it this bearded character?
The poor persecuted slimes in Houston are cordially invited to get the Hell out before they stir up real trouble.
If it's against islam to pictorially represent Mohammed, how do muslims know any of these cartoons are him? I mean surely if they are good muslims, they have no idea what he looks like. Come to think of it, I've no idea what Jesus looked like unless I believe all those paintings of a largely anglo-saxon white man with a beard and long hair! Perhaps I should start burning down embassys!
Since when does the truth constitute hate?????
It is ok for the muslims to incite violence against non muslims and they consider that as teachings of the koran.
But when Christians and Jews desire to show resistance to the teachings of blastphemy and violence propegated by islam, it is hate?? No! We can resist islam by any means necessary and it constitutes common sense in identification of the true enemy of freedom.
Resist on brothers and sisters of America!! We are not subject to the teachings of islam. We have our own culture and are not responsible for accomodating islamic beliefs when it interferes with our own teachings!!
Yes I am outraged.
sorry tried to stop myself.
Not beyond a CAIR member looking to incite the masses.
I think you misunderstood me, maybe my post was confusing. These idiots are the worst bigots on the planet and prove it every time they speak or protest.
Nice to see that one clever muslim couldn't spell 'Butcher' and had to change it! Bet the imam knocked a couple of virgins off his total for that!
Not nearly enough!! It's OUTRAGOUS!
This obviously is someone exercising his first amendment right.
That's not muhammed - his name is Ashaf and he works in my local curry house! Decent bloke, always throws in some poppadums, lime pickle and a portion of gobi aloo for free.
I understand, and I am not outraged! :0)
In light of whats going on in the world huh? Muslim people rioting in the streets, lighting things on fire over cartoons?? Give me a break?
A sign leaning against a fence is a hate crime but 5 baptist churches burned in a series in 1 night is "we are still unsure if these are related to arson"? Muslims, the peaceful kind, (I'd like to think there are some of them) need to get on board with the US and cut the whiney crap. Christians are persecuted all the time, like I said before in other threads, try taking a class in college and let a prof know you are a christian by your work, see how you are treated. Take a religon course and see which religons are considered beautiful histories/cultures and which ones are full of backwoods redneck tax evaders.. Any guesses?
Islam is shown as a devoted faith that practitioners follow to a t, they bow to the east and make pilgrimages and build beautiful mosques. Christianity is 2 country girls twanging out a song about not being related to monkeys and pastors that evade taxes. That is the climate in American colleges today, its sad and pathetic, freedom of speech and thought is limited to the speech and thought that the university wants you to have. Hate speech codes limit you from writing/saying anything that could be offensive to gays/muslims/minorities. No matter how sincere or innocent the comment, you can be brought up on charges. It is out of control. . .
Further, is it any worse that you assault someone because you have a disdain for them or that you assault them because they have a lot of money that you want to take out of their wallet? I'm still not sure about all that
I'd love to read that Statute.
L
Yes, and I am offended.
Somebody is.
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