San Francisco Mosque Targeted in Latest Wave of Anti-Muslim Incidents
Members of one of California's oldest mosques face repeated harassment amid rising Islamophobia. The Islamic Center of San Francisco, one of the oldest mosques in California, has become the latest target in a disturbing trend of anti-Muslim incidents sweeping across the United States. On December 24, 2023, surveillance cameras captured a man desecrating the Quran and confronting worshippers, marking another episode in a series of harassment incidents at the mosque.
Escalating Tensions at the Islamic Center
Zuhaib Siddique, a representative of the Islamic Center of San Francisco, described the incident: "He showed up with religious books, the Quran, bible, and he started standing in the front, tearing pages from the Quran, waving on the security camera. It looked like a hammer. Though later, it looked like a toy hammer and confronting people entering the mosque."The suspect, who has a history of harassing mosque members, has been involved in similar incidents at least three to four times before, according to Siddique. This repeated targeting has left the Muslim community feeling vulnerable and concerned for their safety.
A Pattern of Attacks in San Francisco
This incident is not isolated. Earlier in 2023, another mosque on Sutter Street in San Francisco was attacked when a man used a skateboard to smash six windows. These events contribute to a growing sense of unease among the Muslim community in the city. Zahra Billoo, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) San Francisco, expressed alarm at the increasing frequency of such incidents: "People are fearful that this is becoming more normal. We hear more reports of mosques targeted in the City of San Francisco this year than any other year in existence."
National Surge in Anti-Muslim Sentiment
The incidents in San Francisco reflect a broader national trend. In 2023, CAIR reported a significant increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents across the United States. In the first six months of 2024, CAIR received 4,951 complaints, representing a nearly 70% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The organization documented 8,061 complaints in 2023, with a staggering 3,578 complaints received in the year's final three months. This surge coincided with heightened tensions following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023
Factors Contributing to the Rise
Billoo points to multiple factors behind the increase in anti-Muslim sentiment: "The rise in hate that we are seeing, it's not just about Donald Trump. But also, the U.S.-backed genocide in Palestine."The impact of these incidents extends beyond immediate safety concerns. A recent study by War Child, an international aid organization, highlighted the severe psychological toll on Muslim communities, particularly children.
Community Response and Calls for Action
Residents have expressed dismay at the targeting of religious institutions. Trysta Cunningham, a neighbor, stated: "It's very sad and frustrating. I hope people open their hearts and are more welcoming and accepting. We are all immigrants to this country."Islamic leaders are calling for more robust action from authorities. Billoo emphasized the urgency of the situation: "We are experiencing a 30-year high in Muslim, anti-Palestinian racism, and our call is to elected officials and to law enforcement to send an obvious message that hate will not be tolerated in S.F. against any ethnicity."