(The Center Square) – Elected officials in Philadelphia and beyond are showing support for the city’s Muslim community following an arson at a mosque.
Early Sunday morning, a fire significantly damaged a Northeast Philadelphia mosque, according to KYW Newsradio. CAIR-Philadelphia, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, released a video that showed the apparent arson attack happening around 2 a.m. at the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center.
Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned the arson on Tuesday in a statement announcing that he and his team have been in touch with the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center to offer support, as Pennsylvania State Police are also working with local authorities to find the individual responsible.
“Violence of any kind targeted at our Muslim neighbors has no place in this country. It goes against the foundational values of our Commonwealth and one of our nation’s most fundamental freedoms – the freedom to worship as you wish,” Shapiro wrote. “Every Pennsylvanian deserves to feel safe in their house of worship. And no matter who you pray to, I want you to know that you have a home here in Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a social media post on Tuesday that his heart goes out to the community of the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center.
“In a country founded on the principle of religious freedom this conduct has no place and is just awful,” Sunday said.
Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center, according to Metro Philadelphia, was started more than two decades ago and moved into a house on Tyson Avenue in 2005. A GoFundMe shows that the organization has been raising money to build a new mosque on the site to relieve overcrowding.
“Our mosque is more than a place of worship. It is a welcoming community center that has served families, neighbors, and people of all backgrounds for many years,” said Masukul Islam Khan, President of Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center. “Any act of violence or hatred directed at a house of worship is an attack on the values of safety, religious freedom, and unity that our city cherishes.”
6ABC reports that authorities, including Philadelphia police, the ATF, and the fire marshal’s office, are investigating whether the fire was a hate crime targeting the local Muslim community.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker on Tuesday also issued a statement offering support to the city’s Muslim community.
“I am saddened by the recent fire at the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center. Every Philadelphian should be able to gather in worship with a sense of peace, safety, and belonging. No one should ever fear for their safety because of where or how they pray,” Parker said. “My thoughts are with the congregation and everyone impacted by this incident. I am grateful to our firefighters, police officers, and other investigators, including @ATFHQ, who responded quickly and are working to determine exactly what happened, and hold any responsible party accountable.”
“Philadelphia is home to people of many faiths, beliefs, and traditions. We may worship in different ways, but we share a common belief that our houses of worship should always be places of hope, healing, and community,” she continued. “In moments like this, we are reminded that an attack on one house of worship affects us all. As a united city, we stand together in rejecting hatred and violence wherever they are directed.”
Parker also encouraged those to contact the Mayor’s Office of Muslim Engagement at 215-685-8308 or email [email protected] for more information.
Leaders of the city’s Muslim community, according to Metro Philadelphia, are calling on authorities to investigate the arson as a possible hate crime.
On Wednesday afternoon, elected officials and community leaders held an interfaith unity press conference at the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center.
“We are grateful that no one was injured, but we know we now face the unexpected challenges of the rebuilding,” Khan said, according to KYW Newsradio.
“This wasn’t just an arson. This was a hate crime,” state Sen. Sharif Street said, according to FOX29. “This was a crime that was designed to intimidate people from their freedoms of expression.”
The Northeast Times reported on Wednesday that rewards for information leading to an identification, arrest and conviction in the case have totaled up to $10,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has offered up to $5,000, while CAIR-Philadelphia announced a $2,500 reward, plus Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir matching CAIR’s $2,500 reward.
