In a troubling development, Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in Minneapolis suspended all weekend instructional activities due to a threatening social media post that emerged on Friday, December 13. The alert, communicated by the Minneapolis Police Department, prompted immediate action from the mosque’s leadership to safeguard its members.
Executive Director Mohamed Ali stated that while the mosque remained open for prayers, all community events and classes scheduled for the weekend were canceled as a precaution. “We are deeply saddened by this incident,” Ali remarked. “The safety and security of our community members are our top priority. We understand that such threats can cause trauma, especially considering the tragic Christchurch massacre in 2019, which claimed the lives of 51 worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand.”
The situation is compounded by a separate incident in which Temple Israel, a Jewish temple in Minneapolis, was vandalized with swastikas early Monday morning. Minneapolis police are currently investigating the act, which involved spray-painting symbols on the temple’s doors and a pillar. Video evidence shows a suspect, dressed in a white hoodie and black face covering, arriving and leaving in a silver Honda Civic in under two minutes.
Both Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the vandalism, labeling it a hate crime. In a press release, Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), also condemned the threats against Temple Israel. “We condemn this hateful desecration of a house of worship and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of Minneapolis,” Hussein stated. He emphasized that all faith communities deserve protection from harassment and intimidation in their places of worship.
In light of these incidents, security concerns have intensified for mosques across Minnesota, especially following recent acts of vandalism and arson targeting Islamic centers in the area. To address these issues, the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center has implemented several safety measures, including the installation of surveillance cameras and the hiring of a private security firm. However, Ali expressed a need for further support from law enforcement agencies. “We’re still feeling we need more security from law enforcement agencies,” he noted.
Hussein further highlighted CAIR’s commitment to combating systemic issues such as anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and white supremacy, reinforcing the need for solidarity among all communities.
According to CAIR’s annual Civil Rights Report released earlier this year, there has been a significant increase in anti-Muslim bias complaints, with the organization receiving a record 8,061 reports in 2023, nearly half of which occurred in the last quarter of the year. “I was stunned by the sheer volume of complaints we got,” said Corey Saylor, CAIR’s Director of Research and Advocacy.
In a broader call for safety, the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center urges local government and law enforcement to enhance protective measures for places of worship, advocating for the security of all faith communities in the face of rising threats and acts of vandalism.
