Muslim group calls for hate crime investigation after bacon smeared on Galveston restaurant

Rasa - The local branch of an Islamic organization called Sunday for a hate crime investigation after a Muslim-owned business in Galveston was targeted by vandals.

News ID: 425555

Date: 05 December 2016 - 23:37

RNA - The local branch of an Islamic organization called Sunday for a hate crime investigation after a Muslim-owned business in Galveston was targeted by vandals.

Asad Khan found the front of his Post Office Street restaurant covered in bacon last weekend, just days after discovering bacon grease smeared on the front door handles.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Houston fired back Sunday in a press release.

Bias is the only reasonable explanation for the use of bacon in vandalism targeting a Muslim-owned business, and law enforcement authorities should keep that possible hate motive in mind when investigating this case and in bringing charges against the alleged perpetrator," said CAIR-Houston Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll.

Khan, who immigrated from Pakistan in 1993, opened ZaZa Bar & Bites less than a year ago - but now he's worried about his employees' safety.

On top of the bacon incidents, Khan said he's received a slew of threatening phone calls telling him to leave the country.

The new restaurant owner filed a police report, but it hasn't netted any arrests.

The Galveston vandalism is just the latest in a slew of anti-Muslim incidents since the Nov. 8 election.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has documented nearly 1,000 hate incidents targeting a wide swathe of minority groups, while CAIR has noted more than 100 targeting Muslims since Election Day.

In Houston, a flier found at a Galleria-area apartment complex sparked a police investigation last week.

"Attention all Mexicans, Arabs and non-American 'people.' This is a warning to leave this alt-left proclaimed property immediately before we remove you," the note said.

"Leave our country now or you will be sent back where you came from like the animals you are."

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