Arson suspected in Georgia mosque fire

[alienlovechild 75]

MARIETTA, Ga., July 6 (UPI) -- An American-Islamic advocacy group Tuesday condemned what fire officials said they suspect was an arson that destroyed a mosque in Marietta, Ga.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has asked the FBI to investigate, said the Monday fire reflects a growing number of attacks on U.S. mosques, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

"Unfortunately, we are seeing incidents targeting mosques nationwide," council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper told the newspaper. "It's really a disturbing situation. We've got bombings at mosques and people advocating for bombing and when we don't see any leaders in society standing up in support of the Muslim community, it really sends a negative message."

Fires set upstairs and downstairs at the Islamic Center of Marietta caused about $100,000 damage to the converted house. Along with the two fires, evidence of forced entry pointed to arson, fire officials said.

Prayer services had ended and the mosque had been locked less than an hour before the blaze started, mosque members told the newspaper.

Firefighters, who got the call at about 11:30 p.m., arrived to find flames pouring from the front and back of the mosque, officials said.

"We cannot believe that any person believing in God would come and burn the Muslim place of worship," mosque member Malik Zahoor said. "We have no problem with anybody, but it is our humble request that this problem should be solved."

The mosque had not received any threats since just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, mosque leader Imam Hafiz Inayatullah said.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/07/06/Arson-suspected-in-Georgia-mosque-fire/UPI-85001278467499/

[IndigoSkies 168]

Except that the person who set fire to the mosque is a Muslim and does believe in God. He's be charged and booked without bond http://tinyurl.com/282ex4u His relatives are denying the allegations that he set the mosque on fire. I'd like to know how they went about linking him to the fire. And I would also like to know why he did it if indeed he did it.

[BishopM 114]

Shameful...right in my old neighborhood...

The MahatmaGhandi in me haz a sad