Eastern Iowa Mosque Vandalism Investigated as Hate Crime

Authorities will pursue a hate crime investigation after the Al-Noor Islamic Community Center in Waterloo was vandalized on December 28. The act was captured by building security cameras, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations has requested local, state, and federal authorities investigate the vandalization as a hate crime.

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The woman reportedly used religious imagery

The unnamed woman, described by KWWL as middle-aged, is reported to have drawn crosses in the snow outside the Islamic Community Center. Shortly after, she went up to a mosque wall and scrawled profanities targeting both Islam and Muslims on the mosque's using an oil-based substance. In the video, seen below, the woman is not hiding her face or attempting to conceal her identity. It also appears she took photos of her vandalism.

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/wcfcourier.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/d4/2d449084-f80d-5a72-a5b9-37740c76e88c/61d4b5cb4297b.video.mp4

The entire ordeal unfolded in a span of fewer than 20-minutes, and according to the Courrier, the act occurred shortly before a 7 o’clock prayer service. In the Courrier story, Al-Noor’s imam Ahmed Abouzid was interviewed. He expressed his hope the woman does not get into serious trouble and says he wants her to understand the Muslim community is not her enemy.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3173754176236055&t=2

Abouzid says he forgives the woman and wants to invite her to learn about Islam and hopes this can be a teachable moment. He also stressed, as seen in the video above, a love for Jesus saying that he has to have a love for Jesus to have a "perfect and complete faith"

This is also not the first time the center has been vandalized.