Vandals Spray-Paint, Leave Bacon at Islamic Center of Murfreesboro

The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has been the target of venom and bigotry from its neighbors for so many years now that the incidents all start to run together. In 2010, arsonists lit construction equipment at the site on fire. In 2013, opponents — who had previously tried to weaponize municipal code and use it in their mission to deny the ICM's ability to exist at all in the community — tried to keep the mosque and community center from expanding its cemetery.

Now, the so-called Murfreesboro Mosque has been targeted by vandals who spray-painted its walls with the words "Fuck Allah" and, bizarrely, "We are Vandal Group." They also left bacon at the door at the center's school.

The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office says the vandalism took place overnight on Sunday and that detectives collected evidence while processing the crime scene and "have talked with federal authorities about the crime."

“We are looking for anyone with information about people who may have talked about defiling the mosque,” says Detective Sgt. Dan Goodwin in a release from the office. The ICM addressed the vandalism Monday on Facebook:

The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM) is deeply troubled and saddened by the expression of anti-Muslim hatred and vandalism against our house of worship and community this morning.

We truly appreciate the immediate show of support and solidarity from our neighbors, interfaith partners, and the community at large. However, we are still saddened that this happened in the first place.

“We hope that this incident is not a setback to all the progress we have made in our community since the opposition we faced when we built our new facility, just a few years ago. We are certain that this incident will reinforce our unity and will not negatively impact our beautiful city and county.” – said Dr. Saleh Sbenaty, Chair of the Outreach Committee at the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro and an AMAC (American Muslim Advisory Council) Board Member.

In response to this incident, we invite all people of good will to join us tomorrow, Tuesday, July 11th at 7:30 PM at the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro for a show of support. We will send a clear message that this type of hatred is absolutely not acceptable, and that there is no place for such hateful incidents in Murfreesboro or anywhere else in the United States of America. We hope this incident will help all of us unite to restore and reinforce our reputation as a welcoming city, which is what truly makes Murfreesboro and Tennessee great.

Finally, we very much appreciate the quick response from the Sheriff's office and will continue to work with them and all law enforcement agencies, and we call on them to investigate and hopefully prosecute this to the fullest extent of the law.

Tennessee Democratic Party chair Mary Mancini also released a statement Monday afternoon, condemning the act:

“The vandalism at the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro is inexcusable and cannot be tolerated," Mancini says. "We’re all Tennesseans — no matter who we are, what we look like, or where we live — and everyone who makes this state their home should feel safe to worship as they wish without being harassed. The Tennessee Democratic Party condemns this and any attacks on people of any religion and calls on all leaders in this state to make it clear that there is no place for this type of persecution in our society.”