Posted on 10/26/2006 10:23:26 AM PDT by atomic conspiracy
Repeated vandalism of mosque stirs fear BY BETH AARON AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Members of a Lubbock mosque fear for their safety as vandals have continuously defaced their place of worship.
Within the last month, the Islamic Center of the South Plains at 3419 La Salle Ave. has been vandalized at least three times. Between 11 p.m. Monday and 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, someone wrote the misspelled word "Redemtion" in black spray paint and scribbled lines on the sidewalks.
"I don't know what is the message they're trying to give," said Faiz Rahman, a member of the mosque and the adviser to Texas Tech's Muslim Students Association. "Given that it happened three times within the last month, we're a little concerned."
Jing Xu / Staff Faiz Rahman, a member of the Islamic Center of the South Plains, points to misspelled evidence of vandalism at the mosque, located at 3419 La Salle Ave. Order a print
Lubbock police Sgt. Marian McGuire said the incidents were reported, but whoever is responsible for the vandalism has not been identified.
Trampled flower beds and smashed exterior lights have prompted the mosque's religious leader, Mohamed El-Moctar, to consider updating the mosque's security system and installing digital security cameras.
A contractor also will be brought to the mosque to determine the cost of repairs to the building's exterior.
"We are a very peaceful community - and we expect to be able to come to worship without any intimidation," El-Moctar said. "It's really disturbing for the community because we have a service late at night sometimes."
The Muslim community in Lubbock is estimated to be between 500 and 700 people. Membership at the center is about 150.
Last summer, a fence surrounding the mosque property was removed as part of a renovation project. A new 5,600-square-foot multipurpose building also was added as well as new landscaping and walkways.
The project cost between $700,000 and $800,000 and was funded by local Muslim donations and fundraising events.
El-Moctar said the recent incidents began after the renovation was completed last month. The goal of the additions and changes to the mosque was to become a part of the community.
"I think maybe the building is becoming more visible and possibly more vulnerable," he said.
He encouraged anyone with questions about Islam to sit down with him and other members of the mosque and discuss religion openly.
"I would like to tell the people who did this they are welcome to come to the mosque at any time."
Rahman also said he is not angry with the vandals, but he would like them or anyone else with fear of what they don't understand to try and gain a different prospective.
"Probably they just don't know us - we invite people to come in; this is an open place," he said. "It's a place of worship and it should not be vandalized."
This is not the first time the center has been targeted.
In May 2004, four teenagers received probation for burglarizing the mosque and writing pro-American and anti-Muslim slogans on the walls.
To comment on this story:
beth.aaron@lubbockonline.com t 766-8713
brian.williams@lubbockonline.com t 766-8717
This story first appeared on our Web site at 4:57 p.m. Wednesday
This is one of the funniest statements I read all day!
Repeated vandalism of mosque stirs fear (Lubbock TX) IslamoWacko Terrorism Finally Prompts Military Response (Land of the free, home of the brave)
There. That's better.
Unmentioned in the article is the fact that the mosque's still to be completed centrifuge system was destoyed and it's seed strains for the bio weapon program were infected.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
VANDALISM OF ANY RELIGIOUS BUILDING IS COWARDLY AND HEINOUS.That said, why don't the Muslims try acting like Americans and showing anger at the branch of their religion that is committing the terrorism?
Short answer--they are Muslims first and Americans second. They are occupying the land until their religion makes the US and the world a proper theocracy, just as Mohammed said to do..
vaudine
Short answer--they are Muslims first and Americans second
Wrong..........they are moslims first and only. They are using American's freedom and understanding to destroy us.
That's over $5000 per member or a heck of a lot of cookie sales.
That's over $5000 per member or a heck of a lot of cookie sales
Honey chil, when your business only accepts cash, your receipt function 'donna' work on the gaspump at your gas station, and taxes are for others, y'all can donate $5000 real easy like.
We had repeated vandalism of a church here in Tucson recently. We're lucky it got on the local news. The media loves only one religion it seems, "the Religion of Peace."
You don't? Are you stoooopid?
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