JOPLIN, Mo. —
A little girl viewing the ruins of the destroyed Islamic Society of Joplin mosque with an adult on Wednesday asked a heartbreaking question.
“Why did they burn it down?”
Other children, assisted by adults, gathered what pieces of a burned Quran, the Muslim holy book, they could find. They were surveying the destruction of Monday’s fire in advance of a news conference by members of the mosque and representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. CAIR is a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.
The fire, reported about 3:30 a.m. Monday, is being called “suspicious” by authorities. A July 4 fire, which caused minor damage to the roof and for which there is surveillance video, was intentionally set. About 30 FBI agents, plus agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and investigators with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, are pursuing the investigation.
The mosque will be rebuilt, local Muslim officials said.
Those at the news conference appealed for Joplin to renew the spirit that was prevalent in response to the 2011 tornado in its response to the mosque fire.
‘JUST HUMANITY’
Nihad Awad, CAIR executive director, said he wanted to reaffirm the group’s admiration for how Joplin responded to the tornado.
“They have shown the best of what America is,” he said of Joplin residents.
He said that spirit should be revived in the response to the mosque fire.
“In that spirit we’re coming together,” Awad said. “Joplin should be united. Joplin should not let anyone divide it.”
CAIR has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for Monday’s fire or the July 4 fire. The FBI and ATF have offered a $15,000 reward for the conviction of those responsible for the July 4 fire. It would be extended to the Monday fire if it is determined to be arson.
“This great community is not going to be taken by fear,” Awad said.
Awad said CAIR respects law enforcement and will allow authorities to do their jobs.
“Our community has every reason to believe this fire was deliberately set,” he said.
Hina Qidwai, a member of the Joplin mosque, told of the camaraderie among everyone in the aftermath of the tornado. The mosque was a host for workers from AmeriCorps, Catholic Charities and other groups and churches.
“The whole town came together,” Qidwai said. “Color didn’t matter. Culture didn’t matter. Religion didn’t matter. It was just humanity.”
She said the apparent deliberate destruction of the mosque has been unsettling for her.
“We didn’t expect it,” she said.
IFTAR
The day ended with an interfaith iftar meal, breaking the Ramadan fast of the daylight hours, at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Members of several other churches and the United Hebrew Congregation also participated. Ramadan is the Muslim holy month. About 70 attended the event.
One of the guests was the Rev. David L. Myers, director of the federal Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships with the Department of Homeland Security.
“For people of faith, it’s a sign of standing together,” Myers said of the event. “It’s a strong way for the faith community to stand arm-in-arm with the Islamic community.”
Joplin police Chief Lane Roberts said he took an oath to a document — the Constitution — that guarantees religious freedom to everyone. He said though the mosque was not in his jurisdiction, its burning angered him.
“What has occurred here is a crime against your faith,” Roberts said. “It’s a crime against everything this country represents.”
The menu for the meal included halal jambalaya — jambalaya prepared according to the requirements of Islam.
Donations
TO CONTRIBUTE to rebuilding the mosque, people may send checks to the Islamic Society of Joplin, P.O. Box 3164, Joplin, MO 64803, or place money in the Islamic Society’s account with Commerce Bank.
OTHER OPTIONS include a PayPal account on the Facebook event page for the Aug. 25 “Neighbors” - Joplin Mosque Support Rally in Landreth Park. People also may contribute at the crowdsourcing website indiegogo: www.indiegogo.com/joplinmosqueofficial. It had raised nearly $100,00 by Wednesday night.
Top Stories
Related Photos
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Haaris Rebman, 12, and Hameed Ahmad, of Joplin, on Wednesday search through the wreckage of the burned Joplin mosque for remnants of pages of the Quran, the Muslim holy book. Authorities are continuing the investigation of the early Monday fire, and members of the Islamic Society of Joplin look to rebuild. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER
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Tabassum Saba, a member of the Islamic Society of Joplin, laughs Wednesday night with Renee and Grace White, and Ramona Shields, all members of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. The occasion was an interfaith iftar dinner at St. Philip’s. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER
Discussion
Muslim group seeks to rekindle spirit of Joplin after tornado
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