Vandals Hit Islamic Cemetery in US
"Holes with a sledgehammer," Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association board member Hyder Aziz pointed out as he gave 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS a tour of the damage. "This should be a place of security and peace."
Aziz discovered the vandalism and destruction last week when he brought the architect in to start making plans.
"One of the threats says, 'Leave or you're dead,'" he said of the graffiti.
Leaders in the Muslim community are asking that the incident be investigated as a hate crime.
It took years to acquire the land, and with an estimated $50,000 of damage, it will take even longer for the location to become a sacred place for Minnesota's Muslim community.
"All cemeteries should be respected," Hassan Mohamud, Imam of Da'wah Mosque and local community leader, said. "In Islam, even at the time of the war, the places no one can touch are the cemetery places."
Mohamud said there are two especially sacred places in the Islamic religion, a mosque and a cemetery. Both of which have been at the center of targeted attacks this month.
"We want to be good neighbors. That's what's important," said Aziz. "I think, I hope, these guys, whoever did this, they will eventually change their minds."
The name of the cemetery, Al Maghfirah, is fitting. It means 'forgiveness'.
"For every one person with bad intentions, there are a hundred people with good intentions. So we have to really look for the best," Aziz said.
Local law enforcement is involved in this investigation. They took the sledgehammer left behind as evidence.
Aziz hopes to be able to get the cemetery repaired and ready to open in about 12 months. However, purchasing the land and building the cemetery is a collective effort by the Muslim community and, right now, there is no insurance to cover the damages.
Source: 5 Eyewitness News
