Mosque Vanadlism Part of American Life

MOSQUE DEFACING PART OF ONGOING HATE SPREE - TOP Ashley Fantz, Miami Herald, 4/6/06http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/14273637.htm The weekend defacing of a Muslim prayer hall and a new audit of hate crimes against Jews brought into relief the continuing threats against Muslim and Jewish houses of worship in South Florida.On Sunday, volunteers for the Islamic Center of South Florida discovered that vandals had sprayed the words "Osama BinLeden" in yellow paint on a wall of their new school, gymnasium and prayer hall, which are under construction in the 5400 block of Northwest 108th Avenue in Sunrise."Incidents like this aren't going to stop us," said Syed Rahman, a spokesperson for the center. ``If anything, this will underscore the importance of reaching out to the different religious communities so that we all come together to denounce acts of hate.''The Anti-Defamation League released an audit on Wednesday indicating that hate crimes against Jews increased statewide last year, from 173 in 2004 to 199 in 2005.In Weston alone, between January 2005 and March 2006, a dozen bomb threats were made to synagogues, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.One temple director contacted by The Miami Herald, who asked that his name not be published, said a school at his synagogue regularly conducts bomb drills.''There are religious customs,'' said Andrew Rosenkranz, the Anti-Defamation League's Florida regional director. "Unfortunately, in the world today there is another custom -- and it's security. Everyone has got to do it."FIVE INCIDENTSAt least five incidents of vandalism in South Florida involved mosques or places of Muslim worship last year, said Altaf Ali, of Pembroke Pines.