Minnesota urges urgent investigation as authorities examine possible hate motives

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Members of the community calls authorities to investigate whether a fire that took place Monday evening at a mosque in south Minneapolis was motivated by bias.

According to the news release, the fire broke out at about 5:30 p.m. Monday near the closed-off basement entrance of Alhikma Islamic Center, the Minnesota chapter of Council of American Islamic Relations after an unidentified individual was seen on the mosque’s security footage leaving the area near the basement entrance.

The brick structure of the building prevented the fire from spreading, and no injuries were reported, according to CAIR-MN. Minneapolis Police Sgt. Garrett Parten told Sahan Journal that police are investigating the incident and working to determine if it’s suspicious. Parten said the fire appears to have started among garbage that was near the basement entrance.

“It appears once again, a Minnesota mosque has been targeted. We are deeply concerned about the rise in arsons and attempted attacks on our houses of worship,” CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said in the news release. “Authorities must investigate this fire with urgency and examine whether bias or hate was a motivating factor.”

It was brought to attention that earlier this month, another fire was reported on the property Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington.

Leaders at the mosque told Sahan Journal that after Friday prayers on Sept. 5, a fire broke out in a shed near the mosque after an unidentified male was seen walking near the shed. Bloomington Fire Chief Ulie Seal told Sahan Journal after that fire that he had “no indication or no reason to believe that this fire was a hate crime.”

Source: Sahan Journal