Police investigate hate graffiti at construction site of new mosque in Shirley

Suffolk County hate crime police are investigating an incident in which derogatory graffiti was spray-painted on a banner at the construction site of what is expected to be the second-largest mosque on Long Island, officials said.

Police said the incident at The Islamic Center of Shirley-Mastic mosque on William Floyd Parkway was reported at 3:43 p.m. on Saturday by a 911 caller. The defaced banner had announced "New Mosque Coming Soon! Where Faith and Community Come Together."

Imam Mehdad Islam, one of the leaders of the mosque, said he was disappointed by the graffiti, but it won’t stop the project.

"We’re not being intimidated. We’re doing the right thing," he told Newsday on Sunday. "We’re going to continue building."

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine condemned the incident.

The graffiti "is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable," Romaine said in a statement. "There is no place for hate, intimidation or discrimination in Suffolk County. We are a county that respects people of all faiths and backgrounds, and acts of hate will not be tolerated."

He urged anyone with information on the incident to contact police.

A groundbreaking ceremony at the site in June attracted public officials, law enforcement officials and others. Construction started in mid-July, said Islam, who is also the official chaplain for the Suffolk County Police Department.

The 34,000-square-foot mosque will be not only for Muslims but for the community at large, Islam said. A basketball court and a food pantry will be open for all residents.

Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood), deputy speaker of the New York State Assembly, said Sunday, "This was not merely vandalism — it was an act of intimidation directed at a community because of its faith."

"To our Muslim neighbors in Shirley and throughout Suffolk County: you are not alone. I stand firmly with you," Ramos said in a statement. "You are an essential part of the fabric of Long Island and deserve the same safety, respect and freedom afforded every community."

Ramos, a former Suffolk County Police Department detective who worked in the hate crimes unit, urged anyone with information on the incident to call the SCPD at 800-220-TIPS (8477).

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said the incident was part of a growing trend of attacks on Muslims nationwide.

"We urge local, state and federal law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation and determine whether this incident constitutes a hate crime," Afaf Nasher, executive director of the New York chapter, said in a statement. "We also call on elected officials and community leaders to speak out clearly against growing anti-Muslim bigotry and religious intimidation."

She said CAIR has documented 17 incidents targeting Islamic places of worship in May, June and July, compared to six incidents in the same period last year.

"Muslim New Yorkers should be able to establish houses of worship and gather for prayer without fear that their property will be targeted because of their faith," she said.

Islam also said the mosque is being built so that it can withstand a hurricane or other extreme weather and serve as a shelter for the public. Leaders hope to officially register it with the Red Cross and other agencies.

About 200 families belong to the mosque, including professionals such as physicists, pharmacists, and others, Imam said. Another leader of the mosque, James Abdul-Lateef Poulos, is an imam and the official chaplain at the correctional facilities in Yaphank and Riverhead run by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.

"The vast majority of the Muslim community, especially on Long Island, are here to make a positive change to society," Islam said.