Spike in Islamophobic Incidents Sparks Security Concerns at Austin Mosques
Amid a wave of hate-related incidents, the Austin chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is urging officials to step up security around local Islamic centers. The organization says the recent spate of attacks shows a troubling trend targeting the city’s Muslim population, Chron reported on Tuesday.
One of the most recent incidents occurred at the Nueces Mosque, where masked individuals spray-painted Stars of David on the building. The May vandalism came amid a string of similar acts at other area mosques and has raised alarm in Central Texas, home to roughly 30,000 Muslims.
“Since October 2023, we’ve definitely seen a rise in Islamophobia,” said Rawand Abdelghani, a board member of Nueces Mosque, in a statement to the Associated Press. Abdelghani connected the incidents to rising anti-Palestinian and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
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The uptick in hate crimes follows the devastating Israeli war on Gaza which came after Palestinian resistance groups launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the occupation entity. Israeli attacks have killed more than 59,000 Palestinians with an Israeli siege pushing the coastal territory into an unparalleled humanitarian crisis.
According to a 2024 Pew Research Center study, 70% of Muslim Americans reported feeling an increase in discrimination since the war began.
In Texas, Muslim communities have asked for improved safety measures. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the North Texas Islamic Council raised concerns after officials and residents criticized a plan by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) to build a housing complex and a mosque in the town of Josephine.
Council president Mujeeb Kazi told Chron in April that Muslims in the region had faced online attacks, spurred by baseless accusations that “EPIC City” aimed to establish a Sharia-governed enclave. Kazi said some families were so concerned about the climate of fear that they avoided attending mosques during prayer times.
“Our entire community is in a state of fear, in a state of loss,” Kazi said, attributing the atmosphere to inflammatory political rhetoric and media narratives that he believes have emboldened hate groups.
Founded in 1977, the Nueces Mosque is Austin’s first Islamic center. Located near the Texas Capitol, it is described on its website as the largest student-run mosque in the country and is currently undergoing major renovations.
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Abdelghani said that security upgrades began earlier this year after previous disturbances, including an incident where rocks were thrown at the building. The mosque has since added overnight guards and expanded its camera system.
While both CAIR-Austin and Nueces Mosque declined to comment further, faith leaders from various backgrounds have stepped in to help. Volunteers from Christian and Jewish communities joined Muslims in covering up the vandalism and restoring the mosque’s exterior.
Shaimaa Zayan, operations manager for CAIR-Austin, told the AP that interfaith support has been a source of hope: “It’s really important to open your doors and open your heart and invite people and to rebuild this trust and connection.”
Source: Agencies
