An interfaith embrace after a Texas mosque burns to the ground

(RNS) In three days, donors gave nearly $1 million to rebuild the mosque through its GoFundMe site.

Security officials investigate the aftermath of a fire at the Victoria Islamic Center mosque in Victoria, Texas, on Jan. 29, 2017.  Photo courtesy of Reuters/Mohammad Khursheed

(RNS) Donors have given nearly $1 million to rebuild a South Texas mosque, with many monetary and in-kind donations coming from Christians and Jews.

Authorities have not declared a cause of the blaze that incinerated the Islamic Center of Victoria, about 100 miles southwest of Houston, on Saturday (Jan. 28).

But many people are wondering whether the fire was a hate crime. Comments on the mosque’s online fundraiser page speak of love trumping hate, and of freedom of religion. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $972,000 had been pledged through the GoFundMe site, with other donations sent directly to mosque leaders.


Church members have offered prayers and meeting space to mosque members. Knitters said they would make new prayer rugs for the mosque, carpenters offered their skills and Jewish neighbors handed mosque leaders the key to their synagogue, according to The New York Times.

Hate crimes against Muslims, Jews and other minority religious groups have surged in the past year, according to the FBI and nonprofit groups that also track such crimes. Many say they at least partially blame President Donald Trump, who has spoken of Muslims as a threat and whose surrogates and aides have been criticized for trafficking in anti-Semitic tropes and symbols.

Many of the more than 20,500 donors commented on the Victoria mosque’s GoFundMe page. Remarks included:

Karen Webb: “from a Christian with best wishes for your rebuild”

Deanna Golden: “I am Jewish and I stand with the Muslim community.”

Mairaj Ahmed: “I am a Muslim American, it feels like my religion and now my country have been hijacked by a small minority of hate and fear mongers.”

Marie Osborn: “I will be donating on the 3rd when we get paid. We are Atheists but we are also deeply heartbroken about such an ignorant and hateful act. We stand with you in solidarity. Every American should be free to worship peacefully and safely no matter to whom.”

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