Three Austin Mosques Vandalized, Community Demands Action Amid Rising Islamophobia
On the night of May 22, 2025, three mosques in Austin, Texas—Nueces Mosque, the Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association, and the Turkish Diyanet Center—were targeted in a coordinated vandalism spree, leaving the city’s Muslim community shaken and calling for immediate action. Security footage captured a suspect with a covered face spray-painting symbols, including the Star of David, on the main entrance and surrounding areas of Nueces Mosque. At the same time, similar acts were discovered at the other two sites. The Austin Police Department launched an investigation, increased patrols at all mosque locations, and pledged to foster a “secure and inclusive community.” Community leaders and officials condemned the attacks as part of a troubling rise in Islamophobia, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiment since October 2023.
What Happened and Where
Late on Thursday evening, May 22, leaders at Nueces Mosque in North Austin found their facility defaced with spray-painted symbols, including the Star of David, on its main entrance, porch doors, imam’s office, and fencing. Around the same time, similar acts of vandalism were reported at the Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association near the University of Texas at Austin and the Turkish Diyanet Center on McNeil Road. Surveillance footage from Nueces Mosque showed a white male suspect with his face partially covered, methodically spray-painting the property.
“It’s a shame. It’s a shame to target worship places,” said Shaimaa Zayan, Operations Manager for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Austin), in a statement to News4SanAntonio. “Hundreds of Muslims already saw these, you know, symbols on our facilities, so it was really disturbing for them.”
Community Response
The incidents have prompted urgent calls for enhanced security measures. CAIR-Austin is urging the Austin Police Department to increase patrols and surveillance around all Islamic centers, especially as the affected mosques serve as vital spiritual and cultural hubs for more than 60,000 practicing Muslims in Central Texas.
“These incidents, which reportedly took place on the same night, were apparently targeted attacks meant to instill fear and division,” Zayan said. “Nueces Mosque serves as an essential spiritual and cultural center for students at UT Austin, and the repercussions of such hateful actions on the youth are significant.”
The Austin Police Department responded swiftly, confirming that it is actively investigating the vandalism and has directed patrols to all mosque locations. “We all belong in this community. APD remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive Austin community,” a department spokesperson stated. The department also encouraged residents to report suspicious activity and use the “See Something, Say Something” protocol.
Rising Hate and Islamophobia
The recent spree is not an isolated incident. According to CAIR-Austin, Nueces Mosque alone has reported four hate incidents since late October 2024. Zayan noted a marked increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiment since October 2023, a trend reflected in national data. “We have seen an increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiment since October 2023, so definitely this is just not new,” Zayan told CBS Austin.
This pattern is not unique to Austin. Nationally, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) received more than 8,650 complaints in 2024, the highest number since the organization began tracking such incidents7. Of these, at least 40 explicitly targeted spaces of Islamic worship. Anti-Muslim hate crimes reported to police increased 18% across 28 major U.S. cities in 2024, according to preliminary data from the Crime and Justice Research Alliance.
“It’s not only worship places for us, they are community centers,” Zayan said. “So it affects everyone, women, men, children.”
What the Graffiti Means
The presence of the Star of David in the graffiti has sparked confusion and distress within the Muslim community. “Muslims believe in Prophet David as one of the greatest, you know, Jewish prophets. But having it, using it as vandalism for our worship places, this is a sign or a symbol of Zionism,” Zayan explained. The use of such symbols in acts of vandalism is widely seen as an attempt to intimidate and divide, rather than a reflection of interfaith relations.
Official Condemnation and Interfaith Solidarity
City officials and interfaith leaders have strongly condemned the attacks. Austin City Council Members Zo Qadri and Krista Laine issued a joint statement, calling the vandalism “harassment at religious centers of any kind” and vowing not to allow such hate to define Austin’s values. “These acts do not reflect who we are as a city. To our Muslim and interfaith communities: You belong here. We stand with you,” the statement read.
In response to the attacks, CAIR is organizing an interfaith event to help clean up the vandalism and foster community unity. “Please come and join us for community dinners, join us for our interfaith events, and get to talk to our community members and get to know us,” Zayan said.
Hate Crimes and Anti-Muslim Sentiment
The Austin incidents are part of a broader national trend of rising anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crimes. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Texas reported 76 hate crimes motivated by religion in 2023, a figure that has remained consistent with previous years11. However, experts caution that many incidents go unreported, and the true scale of the problem may be much larger.
Nationwide, existing and proposed mosque sites have been targeted for vandalism and other criminal acts, with efforts to block or deny zoning permits for the construction and expansion of Islamic facilities. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) maintains a map of anti-mosque incidents across the country since 2005, highlighting the persistent nature of this issue.
The Impact on the Muslim Community
The vandalism has had a profound impact on Austin’s Muslim community. The targeted mosques are not only places of worship but also community centers where families gather for education, social support, and cultural events. The sense of safety and belonging for many Muslims has been shaken.
“It’s so sad and very scary,” Zayan said. “It’s a shame to target worship places that way.” The emotional toll is particularly heavy on young people, including university students who rely on these centers for spiritual and social support.
Recent Incidents and Broader Patterns
The Austin attacks follow a disturbing pattern of targeted violence and harassment against Muslims and their institutions. In February, a Palestinian-American man was stabbed in Austin after a pro-Palestinian protest, an incident that police confirmed was bias-motivated. Earlier, a UT Austin Muslim student and his friend were attacked by a group of men who shouted anti-Muslim slurs and physically assaulted them, an incident that CAIR-Austin described as part of a “disturbing pattern of Islamophobia toward the Muslim student population of the UT campus”.
Nationally, the Council on American-Islamic Relations documented 8,061 complaints in its 2024 civil rights report, nearly half of which were reported in the year's final three months. The report, titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” highlights the sharp rise in anti-Muslim incidents following the escalation of violence in the Middle East in October 2023.
Law Enforcement and Community Safety Measures
In response to the recent spree, the Austin Police Department has increased security patrols at all mosque locations and is actively investigating the incidents. The department has also encouraged the public to report suspicious activity and use the city’s “We All Belong” campaign resources to report hate crimes and related incidents.
“Our ongoing efforts aim to ensure a community where every member feels safe, valued, and respected,” the APD spokesperson said. City leaders and community organizations have echoed the department’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
Unity in the Face of Hate
Despite the fear and disruption caused by the attacks, community leaders emphasize resilience and unity. “We are here to stay. We will continue to serve our communities—not with fear, but with hope,” said Fathia, property manager of Nueces Mosque, in an interview with Newslook.
Mosque attendees and interfaith allies have expressed solidarity with the Muslim community. “It’s a dangerous world out there,” said Aaron Ojeda, a mosque attendee. “Whether you’re Arab or not, people seem to struggle with letting others simply live and believe freely.”
CAIR-Austin has extended an open invitation to the broader community to join interfaith events and community dinners, aiming to build bridges and counter hate with understanding and empathy.
The Fight Against Hate and Discrimination
The vandalism in Austin is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Muslim communities across the United States. The rise in anti-Muslim sentiment, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian rhetoric, and targeted attacks on places of worship highlights the need for robust responses from law enforcement, policymakers, and civil society.
The incidents also underscore the importance of accurate reporting, community engagement, and interfaith solidarity in combating hate and fostering inclusive communities. As CAIR-Austin’s Zayan noted, “It’s not only worship places for us, they are community centers. So it affects everyone, women, men, children.”
Next Steps and Community Resilience
As the investigation continues, the Austin Muslim community and its allies are focused on healing, security, and unity. CAIR-Austin is organizing an interfaith cleanup event, details of which will be announced soon. The organization also advocates for sustained police presence and community vigilance to prevent future incidents.
City leaders, law enforcement, and community organizations are committed to protecting religious freedom and ensuring that all residents feel safe and valued. The recent attacks have galvanized efforts to strengthen community bonds and resist the forces of division and hate.
Standing Together Against Hate
The overnight vandalism of three Austin mosques has sent shockwaves through the city’s Muslim community and beyond, prompting urgent calls for action, increased security, and interfaith solidarity. The incidents are part of a troubling national trend of rising Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate, with significant emotional and social consequences for affected communities.
Austin’s leaders, law enforcement, and residents have responded with condemnation, support, and a renewed commitment to inclusion. As the community comes together to heal and rebuild, the message is clear: hate has no place in Austin, and unity will prevail.