Hate Crimes Against Religious Minorities on the Rise in Southern Florida

April 6, 2006

Source: The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/14273637.htm

On April 6, 2006 The Miami Herald reported, "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... 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... At least five incidents of vandalism in South Florida involved mosques or places of Muslim worship last year, said Altaf Ali, of Pembroke Pines... In 2004, CAIR received 1,522 reports of discrimination against Muslims nationwide, compared with 1,019 cases in 2003."