Vandalism at the Downtown Islamic Center in Chicago, Illinois is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
According to ABC 7, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. Sunday night at 231 S. State St. Witnesses said a man was threatening people entering the mosque to pray. They said at one point he shouted, “All Muslims should die.”
The man was then captured on surveillance kicking the front door and shattering the glass with an object. He eventually ran off.
“It’s really sad that incidents like this continue to take place. We really feel houses of worship, all houses of worship, are a beacon, a safe space for all of the community,” Salman Azam, an executive board member at the Downtown Islamic Center, told NBC News Chicago.
On Monday, the Chicago Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement condemning the vandalism and calling for a hate crime investigation.
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“Because of the alleged threats made to worshipers and the vandalism targeting the mosque, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate this incident as a possible hate crime and to step up security for this and other houses of worship in the area. Every American should be free to practice their faith without fear of intimidation or attack,” CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said in a statement.
Chicago police are investigating the vandalism as a possible hate crime.
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