US Governor Of Dayton Visits Islamic Center After Burglary

Minneapolis, 22 Jumadil Awwal 1437/1 March 2016 (MINA) – Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith visited the Umatul Islam Center (USC) in south Minneapolis on Sunday morning.

Last Wednesday, the center was burglarized and its doors and windows were broken. Gov. Dayton called the act vicious and cowardly, International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“This is an assault against your right to choose your place of worship. It’s an assault against the right of every Minnesotan to practice their faith as they chose,” Dayton said.

Officials with the USC tell CAIR that a white male apparently in his 50s was caught on surveillance video breaking doors and windows in the mosque and stealing equipment and files. The damage estimate is more than $5,000.

Wednesday’s vandalism is reportedly the second such incident in the past month. A man who appears to resemble the most recent suspect was allegedly caught on surveillance video trying unsuccessfully to break into the mosque. (T/P006/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)