Muslim Group Calls for Dearborn Fire to be Investigated as Bias-Motivated Arson

The Council for American-Islamic Relations is calling on the FBI to investigate a fire that destroyed a mosque-owned structure Tuesday in Dearborn as a bias-motivated crime.

The storage space, about the size of a garage, is located off of Pelham Street next to . It sits next to what used to be the Dearborn Woods Presbyterian Church, but is now known as the Dearborn Woods Community Center.

According to CAIR-MI Director Dawud Walid, the on Outer Drive purchased the church and storage structure several years ago, and has since used the main building for funerals, weddings and other events.

On Tuesday just after 11 a.m., a fire broke out at the storage area. It was extinguished by the Dearborn Fire Department and did not spread to the main building.

However, CAIR-MI believes the fire was set intentionally, and that the arson was based on anti-Muslim bias.

According to the statewide Muslim advocacy nonprofit, obscene graffiti and the word "Arabs" was discovered on the structure. Walid called on the FBI to investigate.

"If a bias motive is revealed in this case, the FBI should add its resources to those of local law enforcement authorities to help bring the perpetrators to justice," said Walid, who informed local FBI officials of the incident.

The Dearborn Fire Department has not yet determined the cause of the fire, but is not ruling out arson.

This is the second time this year that a Dearborn mosque . The American Moslem Bekaa Center, located on Chase Road north of Ford Road, was vandalized in Februrary.

Walid noted that there have been a number of similar incidents targeting mosques in Maryland, California and Minnesota.

CAIR-MI is asking members of the Muslim community to review security procedures using advice contained in its "Muslim Community Safety Kit."