MPAC Expresses Concern Over Alabama Church Arsons

February 8, 2006

Source: MPAC

http://www.mpac.org/home_article_display.aspx?ITEM=875

On February 8, 2006 the Muslim Public Affairs Council reported, "The Muslim Public Affairs Council today encouraged the Department of Justice to continue the investigation of a series of fires targeting churches, as potential hate crimes. Authorities report that four more churches were found burned Tuesday, just one week after half a dozen mostly Baptist church burnings were deemed arsons... MPAC expresses deep concern at these incidents and calls on all Muslim communities in Alabama and surrounding states to reach out to affected Christian communities. Islamic Center facilities and resources should be offered by Muslim communities to assist in rebuilding structures damaged during the fires. In such times, it is the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad to embrace communities under fire for their faith or identity and offer a collective and interfaith defense... The FBI said it is looking into whether the fires were civil rights violations under laws covering attacks on religious property... While there were no injuries in any of the fires, a number of churches were destroyed including the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Greene County and the Dancee Baptist Church in Pickens County. The nine churches that burned included both white and black congregations."