Mosque arson prompts caution

Columbia, Tenn. vandalism, mosque arson, prompts caution by British resident noting similar cases in England

PRB News followed up last week on a local report about the small Muslim community in Columbia, Tennessee, reporting vandalism and arson of their meeting house.

The vandalism allegedly included spray-painted swastikas followed up with a torching by arsonists.

A British man whose name is withheld noted to PRB News that similar cases exist in England, with a “significant number of cases” being suspected as a deliberate act by the mosque owners themselves.

Columbia Police said firefighters reached the scene at about 5:30 a.m., Saturday morning, Feb. 9, with the “hate slogans” on the side of the building visible as they worked to contain the blaze.

Randy Thysse, an assistant special agent with the Memphis office of the FBI, observed the writings. "One said, 'White Power,' the other said, 'We run the world,' " he said.

"It looks pretty obvious that it was arson," Jim Cavanaugh with the local ATF office said.

FBI and ATF agents are working with local law enforcement and fire departments to investigate the incident as a felony arson case.

The British man, going by the initials T.M., said while he did not want to cast a shadow of doubt on a peaceful Muslim group, he would suggest to investigators an open mind is appropriate - open to all possibilities.

“We in the UK have had many years of Muslim immigration, and unfortunately this kind of thing happens quite often,” he said.

“However, closer investigations…have discovered that in a significant number of such cases, it is the owners of the mosque who have deliberately torched their own properties,” he added.

“The hate Graffiti is also a common touch, it adds a degree of authenticity, and helps garner sympathy for the owners who go on to build a purpose-built mosque with the proceeds.”

Further reports about the group reveal their building had been a rugged, ramshackle shop at 1317 South Main St., Columbia – about 45 miles south of Nashville.

Islamic Center leader Daoud Abudiab said the group is too small for an official cleric, gathering about a dozen on Fridays for prayer services. "We never expected this in America," he said.

Abudiab confirmed the mosque had insurance, but it was too early to know whether the mosque would rebuild or not…

T.M. said, “l can't say from here…what happened in this case, but it is widely acknowledged here, that [arson/fraud] is a growing practice among the British Muslim community.”

Is it profiling and religious bias to investigate such possibilities? It is noted by investigators that arson at Christian churches is often done by a church member or former member.

Even racist-looking incidents at black-member churches, while not nearly always, are often done by disgruntled members or former members seeking revenge or acting out of mental disability.

Churches deal with difficult, hardened people and sometimes intense personal conflicts. Let investigators know, to investigate the inside-job angle with Islamic center incidents of arson is not profiling at all - it is prudent police work.

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