Islamic cemetery in suburban Minneapolis is vandalized

Published 10:07 pm Thursday, August 3, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS — An Islamic cemetery that was initially denied a permit in suburban Minneapolis has now been vandalized.

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said vandals recently entered the Al Maghfirah cemetery in Castle Rock Township and spray-painted profanities and swastikas. CAIR-MN said the vandals also damaged walls, furniture and other property. One spray-painted message apparently says: “Leave, you R dead.”

Last year, a court forced Castle Rock Township to issue a conditional use permit for the cemetery, finding that the township’s initial decision to deny the permit was arbitrary.

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CAIR-MN executive director Jaylani Hussein said the vandalism comes at a time of increasing anti-Muslim incidents nationwide.

FBI spokesman Jeff Van Nest said the bureau received information about the incident and is reviewing it.