Mayor, neighbors upset after vandals target site of future mosque in Mukilteo

MUKILTEO, Wash. -- Vandals targeting Muslims in Snohomish County have the attention of police.

Police said the crime happened at the yet-to-be-constructed Islamic Center of Mukilteo last week. Detectives said an anonymous call last Thursday alerted investigators to the issue.

When cops arrived, they found the mosque’s sign damaged and fliers suggesting that Islam should be banned in America.

Mohammed Riaz Khan, with the Islamic Center of Mukilteo, said he was shocked to learn someone has been spreading anti-Islamic rhetoric at the site where the facility is slated to break ground.

“Our intention is to build a place of God,” said Khan. “If God is meant to be, it happens.”

The signpost was broken but Khan’s message remains strong. He said the Muslim community of Mukilteo is determined to build their house of worship, even in the face of intolerance.

“People talk of discrimination, it’s called sin, I feel,” Khan said.

Mukilteo Police took the fliers into evidence, saying while the content of the message may be offensive to some, property damage won’t be tolerated.

“You don’t have a right to break the law in expressing your opinion,” said officer Myron Travis. “You don’t have a right to damage other people’s property.”

The mayor of Mukilteo blasted the vandals' behavior. Jennifer Gregerson released a statement to Q13 News that said in part: “This vandalism represents the views of an intolerant few, it does not represent the vest majority of our residents who value diversity.”

“What we’re seeing is hate speech and it has no place in a civil community,” said neighbor Alicia Degon.

Degon worries the vandals' tactics could escalate, but she hopes instead the mosque’s detractors voice their opposition is a more constructive way.

“This is ugly,” she said. “Talking about it will help us get past it instead of not talking about it.”

Police don’t yet have any suspects in the case but it’s still an open investigation.

Construction of the Islamic center is expected to begin next spring.