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Inside Bay Area – August 16, 2007
$10,000 offered for mosque fire info
Cassandra Braun
ANTIOCH - Islamic community leaders are hoping a reward will help investigators track down the arsonist who set fire to one of East Contra Costa's only mosques during the weekend.
As much as $10,000 will be given for information leading to the capture and conviction of the persons who started the Sunday morning fire that investigators say was intentionally set, Islamic Center of the East Bay and the Bay Area Council on American-Islamic Relations announced at a news conference Wednesday.
"We want to send out a message that these violent acts are unacceptable," council Executive Director Safaa Ibrahim said.
The Islamic Center on West 18th Street was ravaged by a single-alarm fire at 12:30 a.m., causing an estimated $200,000 in damage. Investigators quickly concluded that four separate fires had been set in the mosque. Three burned out before doing any damage.
Shortly before the fire, neighbors recalled seeing suspicious people lingering around the mosque, which has been repeatedly vandalized. Beyond that, investigators reported no new developments in the case, Contra Costa fire Inspector Bob Davis said.
Meanwhile, the city of Antioch announced that it has agreed to allow Islamic Center members to hold services at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center downtown until they find a new facility or rebuild the ruined one.
Abdul Rahman, chairman of the East Bay Islamic Center Trustees, expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support from the public and the religious community. He also recognized the Antioch Police Department for its partnership and support in ensuring the safety of mosque members….
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_6637255
Contra Costa Times editorial – August 15, 2007
Fire shows hate for U.S.
ARSON AT A PLACE of worship, as authorities say is the case at the Islamic Center of the East Bay mosque in Antioch, strongly suggests "hate crime," which is why the crime is under federal investigation.
Most likely the perpetrator was attempting to show his or her disdain for Muslims. If it was also some sort of misguided effort to show love and support of the United States, it woefully missed the mark.
The burning of a place of worship is the antithesis of what America is about. It tramples on the history of the nation and is a slap in the face to the Founding Fathers.
People came here seeking freedom from religious persecution. It tramples on the First Amendment, which provides for the free exercise of religion, specifying none over another.
The Founders wanted to ensure that civil rights of none were abridged on account of religious belief.
The fire, which has left the building gutted and water damaged, will cause a scramble for a place of worship. This could create a particular hardship as the fire comes just a month before the beginning of a significant spiritual month on the Islamic calendar, Ramadan.
The Antioch firebug's disrespect of this property tramples on a guaranteed right of fellow Americans. What the arsonist has shown hate for is the United States, the Constitution and all for which it stands.
The mosque has been vandalized several times in the past few years. Those incidents too were probably motivated by misplaced hate and anger. But they were nothing more than annoying and perhaps a little costly and scary; they did not interfere with worship. Arson raises the stakes and increases the fear.
This kind of hate is dangerous. The arsonist must be arrested and charged.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_6628031
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