JUNE 2, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015, 3:50 PM
BY LYNN BRUGGEMANN
CORRESPONDENT |
MIDLAND PARK SUBURBAN NEWS
MIDLAND PARK – Less than two weeks before the Elzahra Islamic Center planned to welcome the public to an open house at its newly established mosque, its leaders were forced to report the defacement of a sign at its entrance in what police are calling a bias incident.
Imam Moutaz Charaf reported the vandalism to the police department on Memorial Day, May 25, and estimates the damage at about $500. In the meantime, the sign has been altered to eliminate the appearance of the offensive symbols.
According to the police report, Patrolman Mark Berninger and Sgt. Gregory Kasbarian responded and found a swastika and “male genitalia” had been carved into the sign situated at the entrance of the mosque at 218 Irving St.
Police Chief Michael Powderley said the bias incident is being investigated by Detective Sgt. John Gibbons.
“It appears this is an isolated incident and the police have not received any other reports of this vandalism occurring in town,” Powderley said in interviews this week.
Powderley said since 2011 there have been “numerous incidents” in which swastikas have been featured in vandalized property.
“There were three separate incidents at the high school,” he said.
He said he has increased patrols in the area of the mosque.
The Elzahra Islamic Center is hosting a “community open house” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 5.