CA: Fire destroys mosque - Hatred not ruled out

San Bernardino Sun ^ | 6/4/05 | Kelly Rush

[NormsRevenge]

ADELANTO - An early Friday morning blaze that destroyed a mosque in a cemetery has prompted the FBI to investigate whether the fire was started by someone motivated by hate.

Laura Bosley, an FBI spokeswoman, said the agency has not determined whether the fire that leveled the mosque at the United Islamic Youth Organization and Cemetery is a hate crime.

She said an investigation into the blaze, which caused $225,000 in damage, is ongoing.

The cemetery's caretakers, Ali and Michelle Khawaja, are hesitant to label the incident a hate crime. Michelle Khawaja said she doesn't want to believe anyone in the community could be capable of something so cruel.

"It stood for community; it stood for brotherhood,' she said of the mosque. "I'm an American and a convert, and I would like to think that my American brothers and sisters believe in the rights of all people to freely worship.'

The 1,800-square-foot Muslim prayer hall was a place where people went to meditate and grieve over the loss of loved ones.

The modest white building with two minarets was more than just a gathering place for the Muslim faithful in this High Desert town; it was a symbol of Islam and its fundamental beliefs, Michelle Khawaja said.

The blaze reduced the simple structure to a pile of smoldering ash and rubble. Authorities have not concluded whether it was started intentionally, said San Bernardino County Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez.

She said the fire was reported at 4:24 a.m. by a long-haul trucker who saw smoke as he drove north on Highway 395. When firefighters arrived about 20 minutes later, the walls of the mosque already were caving in, she said.

Fire investigators believe the blaze was started by an open flame such as a lighter because the building lacks power sources such as electricity, propane or gas.

"We can't say it's arson, but we haven't ruled that out yet,' Martinez said.

The FBI reported to the scene, as well as officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Sheriff's Department, Martinez said.

Bosley said the FBI always investigates suspicious fires that occur at places of worship.

She said there were no threats made to the mosque or its members.

"We haven't ruled out anything,' she said.

No other area of the cemetery was desecrated on Friday.

The 35-acre property, surrounded by miles of scrub brush and thin stands of Joshua trees, holds 500 graves, with space for another 2,000, said Ali Khawaja.

Michelle Khawaja said spiritual leader Shaikh Zaid Hussien Assfy bought the Adelanto property because of its inexpensive price and founded the United Islamic Youth Organization and Cemetery. Ali Khawaja said the cemetery was built in 1987 and the mosque was erected about three years later.

Some of the items lost in the fire are priceless, such as a black velvet cloth with the 99 names of Allah sewn on in gold, Michelle Khawaja said. Also lost were about 1,000 books, including copies of the Quran.

The fire is just the latest in a string of vandalisms at the property. Buildings were burglarized four times in the last two weeks, Michelle Khawaja said.

She believes the same people are responsible for the burglaries and the fire.

"Maybe someone lost a son or daughter in the Iraq war?' she said. "I sympathize with that person, but there are more constructive ways to express your grief.'

Michelle Khawaja said the building is insured and that the board of directors that oversees the grounds will rebuild the structure.

John Bridges, an assistant caretaker at the cemetery, said he doesn't know why anyone would travel to the desert in the middle of the night to light a mosque on fire.

"This church was not political,' he said. "It was where the dead are buried."

Salam Al-Marayati, director of The Muslim Public Affairs Council, a Muslim advocacy group, said he was briefed about the Adelanto fire by FBI officials early Friday.

Al-Marayati held a news conference in Los Angeles to talk about what he called an increase in acts of hostility against Muslims.

"Hatemongers are sending a message they're not tolerating any Muslim presence in America,' he said by phone. "We need to bring people together in solidarity (and say) Muslims are an integral part of America and we will be united against hate."

[montomike]

Burn, Baby, Burn.

Not quite up to cutting a head off, but then we are a civilized people.

[Sacajaweau]

A Muslim terrorist acts. A Muslim hater does not. Hate is an emotion only.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for those comments.

The Chinese and the Arabs see things in terms of centuries, not hours and minutes like Western folks when it comes to achieving their goals, who seek instant gratification and want to feeel good about themselves and how they conduct themselves.

The Chinese and Arabs could care less what good people we are.. we are in their way. and when the Chinese and the Arabs collide, again, load up on popcorn. ;-)

[velocityguy]

Aaaah, this is the happiest night I am having during this week. The picture of a burnt "house of Jihad" is soooooo cute. Mmmmmm, the smell of a burning "violent book of Jihad" is yummy.

[Random Nonsense]

Whilst we are following this case, here is additional reading from Frontpage. :)

CAIR's Hate Crimes Nonsense, by Daniel Pipes and Sharon Chadha.

[rogue yam]

My guess is that it was an inside job, seeking either to guilt-trip decent Americans, or to pull some sort of financial scam. We'll see, but that's my guess.

[paul51]

I'm an American and a convert, and I would like to think that my American brothers and sisters believe in the rights of all people to freely worship.'

I'd like to know if you think it's a two way street.

[SauronOfMordor]

My opinion is leaning towards insurance fraud

[No Blue States]

~You know that I would be a liar, If I were to say to you..girl we couldnt get much higher...

[squirt-gun]

Muslims "blowed up" their own Mosque in Iraq.....as one of the locals described to me.

Many Korans were unceremoniously destroyed without a word about desecration of this great masterpiece by other ragheads.

Its only when non-ragheads do the job that the crying starts.

[porkchops 4 mahound]

We ALL, shall reap what we sow.

[mewzilla]

I'm still up in the air on this one. Hatered or common sense?

Or just plain ol' arson?

[Gritty]

Some of the items lost in the fire are priceless, such as a black velvet cloth with the 99 names of Allah sewn on in gold

Priceless? Aw, c'mon! I'd wager most old Elvis-On-Velvet paintings are worth more. They put the 99 names of Allah on just about everything.

[CyberAnt]

Maybe somebody set it on purpose to make us look bad.

Don't forget these people burned their own library with 400 copies of the Koran while they were blaming us for flushing one down the toilet.

[DoughtyOne]

That's an interesting take.

[DoughtyOne]

Isn't that the truth.

[ChibisHologram]

---

"... All these barbarous acts by the Albanian extremists have occurred in the presence of United Nations and the International Peace Forces (KFOR), not in the time of war but of peace. The Serbian Orthodox Church and its historical and religious heritage are exposed to systematic destruction and extermination in the very presence of the most powerful armed forces of the world and in the very heart of Europe. The Kosovo Albanian gangs of looters and arsonists are mercilessly destroying monuments of worldwide renown which survived centuries of turbulent history. With such a systematic campaign against Christianity, civilization and world culture, Kosovo Albanian extremists show that their goal remains an ethnically cleansed Kosovo without Serbs and their Christian monuments." -- Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle

[porkchops 4 mahound]

I understand, and you should be able to tell which side I'm on by my screen name.

However, the fact remains, we shall ALL reap what we have sowed. How could it be otherwise? You do not plant cabbage and get oranges.

I am more than "uncomfortable" with arson and murder. But I am just fine with declared WAR.

The most difficult challenge we face fighting these islamist animals is to not become what we are fighting, while we find and destroy them, and their death cult.

[verity]

It used to be called ARSON.

[Ramonan]

Probably done by an Islamofascist:
GITMO QURAN "MISHANDLING"
He also said they found 15 cases of detainees mishandling their own Qurans. "These included using a Quran as a pillow, ripping pages out of the Quran, attempting to flush a Quran down the toilet and urinating on the Quran," Hood's report said. It offered no possible explanation for the detainees' motives.