FBI and police The FBI and Honolulu police have launched a hate crime investigation into who left hundreds of anti-Muslim leaflets at Oahu's only mosque yesterday morning.
probe hate leaflets
left at Oahu mosque
By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comOfficials from the FBI and the Muslim Association of Hawaii said the suspect or suspects tossed small leaflets over the fenced yard of the Islamic Center mosque at 1935 Aleo Place in Manoa around 8 a.m.
According to a news release from the Council on American Islamic Relations, a national Islamic rights group out of Washington, D.C., the leaflets were titled "ATTENTION RAG-HEADS" and included a threat against Muslims. The leaflets, according to the group, said "every curry fund-raiser will be checked to ensure that funds are not being funneled to support terrorist groups. Anyone found in violation will be strapped with explosives and shipped to Iraq. MAY GOD (NOT ALAH) BLESS AMERICA!!"
"They couldn't even spell Allah," said Rashid Abdullah, the information officer for the Muslim Association of Hawaii. "We're not totally surprised. ... We are not intimidated in any way, though we are treating this as a threat, and we're taking it seriously."
FBI Special Agent Dan Dzwilewski said, "We're aware of the situation, and we're taking it seriously and we're looking into it as a potential threat or hate crime to the Muslim community.
"I've met with Muslim leaders here personally, and we're working with the Honolulu Police Department on this. This is a violation of civil rights. ... We do not tolerate any type of hate crime against any group."
Officials from the Council on American Islamic Relations said they have asked for increased police protection at the mosque.
According to the council, there are about 3,000 Muslims in the state. Many of them feel very comfortable in Hawaii, said Abdullah.
"The people of Hawaii have been very supportive, very understanding and very proactive," he said. "To see this kind of ignorance is disappointing, but we know that this is just a small part of the community."
Nihad Awad, executive director of the council, said comments over the past year by conservative Protestant clergy, including Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, are evidence of a rise in anti-Islamic hate speech that contributes to acts such as the leafleting.
"We believe the small minority of bigots in our society are being encouraged to take such actions by the anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from right-wing and evangelical leaders," Awad said in the news release.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
