$10K reward for info on Mosque hate vandalism; FBI searching for suspect
HOUSTON - Baitus Samee Mosque compound on Spears Road was vandalized with hateful graffiti in the Urdu language on August 14, according to authorities.
"This is a house of God, it was shocking to hear," said Nasir H Malik of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: FBI Houston, HCSO search for suspect in Baitus Samee Mosque vandalism
Malik says that Baitus Samee is a Mosque that welcomes anyone to come and pray, regardless of religion.
He says Ahmadiyya is a denomination of the Islamic religion. They have faced backlash from certain communities after the Pakastanii government declared the denomination "not Muslim".
Malik says back in Pakistan, hateful acts like these turn violent.
"Our mosques have been vandalized back home. In one incident, 96 people were murdered in one day while praying," he said.
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Malik says the graffiti uses a derogatory term followed by the words "false profit". He says he's afraid of acts like this one, escalating.
"Are they going to plant something here? Because these people, when they come - they are not afraid of dying, and they are not ready to be caught."
Malik says he wants the suspect to come forward, and would be interested in simply peacefully speaking with him about the incident.
FBI Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are working to identify the suspect, offering up to a $10,000 reward for information in the case.
FBI Houston says before the incident, the man parked a damaged silver Honda Accord at a nearby gas station.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.