Gunman Attacks Memphis Mosque

Dateline: 06/21/00

 
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

We have previously reported on hate crime attacks against Muslims and Islamic places of worship.  We are sorry to report that the most recent attack occurred on Tuesday morning (June 20th) in Memphis, Tennessee.

As worshippers arrived at the Masjid Al-Nur ("Mosque of Light," near the University of Memphis campus) for pre-dawn prayers, a neighbor shot one man and fired several more bullets into the door of the mosque.  The Muslim worshipper is listed in satisfactory condition at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the upper leg and pelvis.  Authorities took the suspect, 26-year-old Brent Fong, into custody.  He is expected to be charged with attempted murder and several counts of reckless endangerment.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling upon local authorities to investigate this as a possible hate crime.  Reportedly this neighbor has had verbal confrontations with members of the mosque in the past.

Far from being an isolated incident, this is merely the latest in a wave of violent hate crimes against Muslims in the United States.  In May 1999, a man was detained while loitering around a Denver mosque in the early morning hours.  Police found loaded weapons and bomb-making materials in his car.  There have also been a number of arson attacks against mosques in recent years.

All Muslims, unfortunately, need to be aware of safety concerns and the possibility of violent hate crimes.  The Council of American-Islamic Relations recommends that mosques take the following safety precautions in light of recent events:

• Build good relationships with neighbors of the mosque. Invite them to visit your center.

• Try to have people attend the mosque as much as possible. Activity deters perpetrators.

• Make an appointment with the community relations officer of your local police department to tour your center and make suggestions on improving mosque security.

• Request additional police patrols in the vicinity of your center.   Special attention should be paid to times of darkness and during prayers.

• Consider creating a security committee at your mosque.

• Post mosque members at entrances and parking areas during prayer times.

• Report suspicious packages to police. Do not touch them.

• Install perimeter floodlights outside the mosque.

• Install fire and burglar alarm systems.

• Replace hollow core doors with more secure solid doors.

• Install burglar-proof bars on screens and large vents. (Note - Research local ordinances before beginning security renovations. For example, window bars should not limit evacuation in case of fire.)

• Trim shrubs and vines to reduce areas of concealment.

• Participate in neighborhood watch programs.

• Document descriptions of suspicious people or vehicles.

• Make duplicates of all important papers, computer disks and records.

• Remove potential fire hazards, such as trash and debris.

• Consider installing security cameras.
  
  [Courtesy of the Council on American-Islamic Relations]
  
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[Graphic courtesy of Al-Muntada Al Islami Graphics Gallery.]

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