“Violence is not a good answer for violence.”
AB Wire
The Masjid Ibrahim Mosque in Coachella, California, is slowly recovering from the devastating firebomb attack on Friday by a man named Carl James Dial, 23, who was arrested by the police.
Members of the mosque gathered for Saturday prayers, reported The Desert Sun. Dial was arrested late Friday in Palm Desert in connection with the suspected arson-hate crime at the Coachella Valley’s only mosque, 84-650 Avenue 49.
K Sadiq, who stood vigil overnight at the mosque, said people in this world need to question what politicians and religious leaders are telling them before filling their hearts with hate, reported the Sun.
“If someone tells you to hate someone, you need to say, ‘Why?’ and not just hate them,” Sadiq said.
The fire occurred more than a week after a mass shooting that killed 14 people and injured another 22 in San Bernardino – it is one of many similar incidents that officials say have been occurring at mosques around the country in response to the San Bernardino shootings, which authorities have said were committed by radicalized followers of an Islamic State group.
A gurdwara was also vandalized in Orange County, California, last week.
According to Riverside County jail records, Dial was arrested along Country Club Drive shortly before 9 p.m. Friday by Riverside County sheriff’s investigators.
He is being detained at the Riverside County Jail in Indio on suspicion of committing multiple felony offenses including: commission of a hate crime, two counts of arson, one count of maliciously setting a fire, and a count of second-degree burglary.
Dial remained jailed Saturday night in lieu of $150,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Wednesday, according to jail records.
His arrest was a comfort to many of the mosque members who gathered outside the mosque Saturday to pay their respects and lend a hand with clean-up efforts.
No one there recognized Dial from his mugshot, and most people were confused that such an incident would happen in such a quiet, accepting neighborhood, the Sun reported.
The Orange County reported that authorities provided no details on how the fire was set. The ATF, FBI and state fire investigators were investigating.
Earlier, Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor John Benoit said although law enforcement officials haven’t confirmed who threw a flammable device at the mosque, the local consensus is the attack appears to be retaliatory.
“If in fact this was an individual targeting a mosque, believing there were Muslims there… it’s reprehensible, an act of terrorism,” Benoit said. “Violence is not a good answer for violence.”
The facility was hit by gunfire in November 2014 in what authorities investigated as a possible hate crime. No one was injured in the early morning incident.
Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Springs, in a statement issued Friday afternoon, said the fire “deeply concerned” him.
“I call for a thorough investigation to this arson as a possible hate crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Ruiz said. “I will continue to closely monitor the fire, the possible criminal investigation, and the safety of the members of the mosque. Our faith in humanity will not be intimidated and we stand together against any form of violence towards the innocent.”
On the East Coast, WBAL Baltimore reported that worshipers from several faiths gathered Sunday at a mosque in Rosedale, Maryland for an interfaith vigil.
People could freely and ask questions about Islam, and get answers from members of the congregation. Mosque leaders said that’s how to combat Islamaphobia.
“Education is the only solution to this. Islamaphobia rises out of ignorance. When we’re ignorant to the true teachings of a religion, then that leads to fear of that religion as well,” said Hammad Ahmad, imam of Masjid Bait-us-Samad.
Organizers scheduled the service after the violence in San Bernardino, California, to give people a chance to pray and learn from each other.
“When these things happen, we need to educate the public that these are not in accordance with the teachings of Islam. Islam teaches peace and justice and interfaith harmony,” Ahmad said.
Catholic, Christian and Jewish faith leaders brought members of their congregations to the mosque for fellowship, reported WBAL.
“We get to know people different from us, people of a different faith than us, people who have a different perspective than us. We share life, we share food, we share prayer and we get to know that what we are told by the stereotypes and by politicians and others is not true,” said Father Joe Muth, with the Blessed Sacrament and St. Matthew Catholic churches.
Faith leaders also offered messages of solidarity.
“It’s all important for us to advocate for ourselves, but it’s heard all the more powerfully if we advocate for others, amen,” said Rabbi Andrew Busch, with the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.
Mosque leaders said they plan to open their doors more often.