Austin mosques vandalised, prompting calls for heightened security
Three mosques in Austin, Texas, were vandalized late Wednesday night in what the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) described as targeted hate crimes, Austin American Statesman reported. Graffiti, including Stars of David, was spray-painted on the Nueces Mosque, Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association (IABA), and the Austin Diyanet Center.
Security footage from Nueces Mosque captured a masked white man tagging several areas, including the entrance, the Imam’s office, and a nearby fence. Similar markings were later discovered on the gates and billboards of IABA and at the Diyanet Center’s entrance. CAIR-Austin highlighted that these incidents are part of a troubling pattern of attacks on Muslim places of worship in the city. The Nueces Mosque has reported four hate incidents since last October.
“These attacks, all occurring on the same night, appear to be deliberate attempts to spread fear and division,” said CAIR-Austin Operations Manager Shaimaa Zayan. She called on the Austin Police Department (APD) to increase security and surveillance around all Islamic centers.
The APD confirmed it is investigating the incidents and has stepped up patrols at mosque locations. Public Information Manager Lisa Cortinas emphasized the department’s commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive community.
Rawand Abdelghani, a board member of Nueces Mosque, noted the mosque’s role in serving Muslim students at the University of Texas at Austin and hosting interfaith events. He expressed concern over the recent incidents amid rising Islamophobia, anti-immigrant sentiment, and challenges to free speech.
CAIR has recommended mosque leaders follow its safety guidelines and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
