Vandal attack Central California Mosque

09-05-2003

LOS ANGELES, CAIR-LA: The Council on American-Islamic Relations Southern California (CAIR-LA) today reports that vandals attacked a mosque in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The attack on the Islamic center, which occurred on Monday, comes on the heel of several other attacks against houses of worship in Los Angeles County, including two synagogues, a Presbyterian church and a Baha'i community center.

A representative of the Islamic Society of the Central Coast reported to CAIR-LA that pieces of glass were scattered across the prayer hall after vandals smashed the front door of the center. The attack apparently occurred Monday evening and was noticed when worshipers came to the mosque that night. The incident was reported immediately to the San Luis Obispo Police Department, located across from the Islamic center.

CAIR-LA has learned that the police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.

"The Muslim community stands in solidarity with the Jewish, Christian and Baha'i communities whose houses of worship have also been recently targeted. Acts of hatred against any religious or ethnic group have no place in our community. We hope that the perpetrators of the attacks will be swiftly brought to justice," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush.

CAIR is America's largest Islamic civil liberties group. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 16 regional offices nationwide and in Canada. Since its founding in 1994, CAIR has defended the civil and religious rights of all Americans.

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