Islamic Society draws support from other faith groups after vandalism at mosque
A day after the Islamic Society of North America was spray-painted with racial slurs and vulgarities, the organization's secretary general didn't speak with anger.
In a room packed with faith leaders, members of the media and the greater Indianapolis community, Hazem Bata explained that he wouldn't discuss an increase in bigotry since 9/11, the history of racism in America or anti-Muslim messaging appearing in this year's presidential election.
Instead, he smiled.
"I'm not here to focus on the negative because once you start focusing on the negative, you start to take on a victim’s mentality. And as Muslims in America, we refuse to be victims in our own country," Bata said. "I want to thank the vandals for highlighting the fact that the bonds between Muslims and their fellow Americans, and the bonds between Muslims and their brothers and sisters in other faiths, is stronger than the bond between spray paint and brick.
"The spray paint is already gone ... but our partners are still here, and they're not going anywhere."
The incident was reported about 6:50 a.m. Sunday at the group's headquarters in Plainfield, according to Bata. Security footage revealed that the act was committed by three men who went to the building, which acts as both administrative offices and a place of worship, in a pickup truck.
Witnesses in the building for morning prayers saw the men but were unaware of the vandalism until after the men left. The suspects did not attempt to enter the building, and no one was hurt during the incident.
Investigators from the Plainfield Police Department and the FBI are still searching for the suspects.
The news conference Monday allowed those living in Hendricks County and nearby to stand in solidarity with the local Muslim community. Several faith leaders condemned the actions, delivering the message that an attack on one religion is an attack on all religions.
Kent Millard, retired senior pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, wanted to let Bata know that he is not alone. During the news conference, Millard asked all of the Christians in the room to stand. He smiled as more than half of those in attendance stood. "We are on your side," he said.
Lindsey Mintz, executive director of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, also expressed support for ISNA.
"Expressions of hatred like this are direct affronts to American and Jewish values of inclusivity and pluralism, and to our belief that all human beings are created in the image of God," she said. "An act of violence directed at Muslims is an act that unequivocally harms us all."
Mintz noted that Sunday's vandalism is only the latest hate-based crime reported in Indiana in recent months: a Muslim woman was attacked by an Indiana University student in Bloomington last fall, more than 50 headstones were damaged at the Fort Wayne Jewish Cemetery in early February, and a Chinese high school student was attacked in Brown County weeks ago by a white supremacist wielding a hatchet.
The vandalism also comes just days after the execution-style killing of two Muslims and a Christian who were part of an African community in a Fort Wayne home. In that incident, local authorities dismissed speculation that those killings were hate crimes.
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Still, Mintz said it's time to enact laws that could deter crime motivated by hate.
"Every time we hear one of these despicable and senseless acts, we’re reminded that hate-based violence still takes place with shocking regularity," she said. "A nation's laws should reflect its social contract with all of its citizens. Adding and enforcing a law that would address crimes based on prejudice would help align our law with our American values."
ISNA reported the incident to the FBI as a hate crime, but it's unclear if it's being investigated as such federally. Locally, the crime could be reported as a hate crime but couldn't be prosecuted as one because Indiana is one of five states without a hate crime law.
Proposals to create one have been introduced in the Statehouse for more than 15 years but have not passed. Most recently, some Republican lawmakers and a coalition of community groups unsuccessfully pushed this year to create such a law.
It would have allowed judges to consider stricter sentences when crimes are motivated by hatred toward a person or group because of characteristics such as their race, religion or sexual orientation.
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Gov. Mike Pence on Monday issued a statement speaking out against the vandalism and directing the Indiana State Police to assist in the investigation.
"Our hearts go out to the members and families of the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield for this despicable act of vandalism," Pence wrote in a series of posts on his Twitter page. "I condemn vandalism against places of worship in the strongest possible terms. I have directed (the Indiana State Police) to provide any and all assistance in bringing the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice."
Bata said it is unclear what will become of the three men when they are caught by the police. He added that their punishment is not his top priority.
Instead, he wants use understanding and kindness to prevent future attacks from occurring, he said.
"I think these three young men may or may not be hateful people, but my guess is they’ve never met a Muslim … and if they did, they probably would not have done what they did," he said.
Bata said the best counter to ignorance and fear is personal contact and fostering relationships with others.
He also issued a message to any future vandals: "If you're going to bother to drive all the way to a mosque and walk up to the front door, instead of spray-painting the wall around the front door, just try knocking. We will gladly open our doors to you."
IndyStar reporter Stephanie Wang contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.