Posted on: Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Anti-Muslim leaflets probed as hate crime

By B.J. Reyes
Associated Press

Federal authorities and police are investigating as a hate crime the dropping of hundreds of anti-Muslim leaflets in the yard of a Honolulu Islamic center, the FBI said yesterday.

The leaflets were thrown into the fenced yard of the mosque of the Muslim Association of Hawai'i around 8 a.m. yesterday, said Daniel Dzwilewski, special agent in charge at the bureau's Honolulu division.

"We're looking into it right now," he said. "We do not tolerate acts of religious discrimination or violence or hate crimes like this."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said the leaflets read in part: "During the war on terrorism, the vigilant, patriotic residents of Hawai'i will be keeping an eye on our Muslim 'friends' ... Every curry fund-raiser will be checked to ensure that funds are not being funneled to support terrorist groups. Anyone found in violation will be strapped with explosives and shipped to Iraq."

There are about 3,000 Muslims in Hawai'i, the Council said.

Dzwilewski said the leaflets were the first such anti-Muslim act in Hawai'i.