Tennessee: Vandalism Against Mosque

February 12, 2010

The Tennessean reports on vandalism of a Tennessee mosque, the Al-Farooq Mosque, with crosses and the message "Muslims go home" spray-painted on the exterior of the building.

On February 10, 2010, the Tennessean reported:
-- "State, local and federal officials are investigating vandalism discovered this morning at the Al-Farooq Mosque on 4th Avenue South."
-- "The words 'Muslim go home' and several crosses were spray-painted in red on the exterior of the building, and an expletive and hate-speech filled note was left at the youth center, according to a board member of the mosque."
-- "'It was an unexpected thing,' said Salaad Nur. 'It kind of shook us.'"
-- "Brooks was unsure if there was any physical evidence that might help them solve the crime."

On February 11, 2010, the Tennessean reported:
-- "an expletive and hate-speech filled note was left at the youth center, according to a board member of the mosque"
-- "Metro Police Sgt. Brooks Harris of the Specialized Investigations Division said his department will investigate because of the obvious sign that the vandalism could be classified as a hate crime. He said he notified the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as well as the FBI, to see if federal laws were violated and look for potential similarities with vandalism late last year at a mosque site in Murfreesboro."

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We reject and deplore such vandalism at any houses of worship.  We reject those who would promote hatred and fear through "Islamophobia."
 

We support our unqualified, universal human rights for all.  We urge supporters of ideologies of hate to drop the burden of the hate from their hearts, and to rejoin the family of humanity in support of our universal human rights. 

Choose love, not hate.