According to Rahyafte(the missionaries and converts website):The latest attack on Thursday has prompted the country’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), to urge authorities to investigate a potential bias motive.
On Thursday, the Islamic Center was targeted again with obscene graffiti on the wall. Benssouda, who manages the property, said he felt disrespected and violated by the repeated attacks, not only as a Muslim but also as a member of the community.
“I feel that, honestly, with the respect that this is an example of not caring about the law,” he said.
The Islamic Center suffered thousands of dollars in damage after vandals broke into the building last week and desecrated a Quran. “They went in to rip the Quran, Holy Quran, and poured beer on it. They went in, stabbed, like, the whole entire like the drywall,” Benssouda said. He also found alcohol bottles, trashed furniture, and a picture of Jesus Christ on top of the debris.
The vandals came back later that week and ruined the A/C unit. The Portales Police Department said they are still working on the case and have not labeled it as a hate crime yet.
“We condemn these attacks on a house of worship and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Portales. Based on the actions of the vandals, we call on law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for these crimes. Due to the repeated targeting of this mosque, we urge local police to step up their patrols in the area,” CAIR national communications direct Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement, KRQE reported on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the police say the vandalism is “similar to that on other vacant buildings” and is “more than likely not a hate crime.”
“Our investigators are continuing to investigate this incident regardless of if it is or is not a hate crime. In New Mexico if a crime is determined to be committed out of hate then it is a sentencing enhancement and not a separate criminal charge.
At this time the damage is extremely similar to that on other vacant buildings in the area, which leads us to believe that this is more than likely not a hate crime however, possible leads are being followed up on and the area is being monitored by officers,” Chief Christopher Williams, Portales Police Department, said in a statement.
Source: Agencies
