Nadine Osman
A sign for a Muslim school in Illinois was defaced with far-right symbols sometime between January 15 night or morning January 16.
Police were called by officials at the Islamic Center of Peoria (ICP) at Charter Oak Road, at about 10:25 am.
The numbers 1488 were painted on a sign for Daarul Uloom Islamic School in pink paint. 1488, is a numerical Nazi emblem.
The number 14 is a reference to 14 words white supremacist slogan: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children”, while the number 88 either refers to those 88 words from Mein Kampf, or for ‘Heil, Hitler’, as H is the 8th letter of the English alphabet.
In a statement to The Muslim News, a spokesman for ICP confirmed the “incident has been reported to the police of Peoria and the sign ‘Alhamdolellah’ [thank God] has been cleaned.”
“At this moment, the ICP has requested from the police more patrols especially during the second and third shifts. The ICP is also looking into adding security cameras at the entrance of the facility with adding more warning signs that the ICP facility is monitored by video surveillance,” said the spokesman.
He added, “The Islamic Center will continue to build stronger relationships with the community-at-large, specifically with our Christian and Jewish neighbours, as we continue to strive for peace and unity.”
The Islamic Center received support from the wider community. “Support and help from the Peoria community have been tremendous and touching. Outpouring calls, messages and gifts have been received over the past 24 hours. Alhamdolellah, receiving such a support is a blessing and a mercy from Allah SWT first and foremost,” said President of the Center, Mohammed Daoud.
