Suffolk solidarity in Shirley after hate graffiti at mosque construction site

Faith and community leaders, along with Suffolk officials including County Executive Edward P. Romaine, sent an unflinching message Monday about the hateful graffiti spray-painted at a construction site that when completed, will be one the most expansive mosques on Long Island.

“We will go after those who work against others who are practicing their religion,” said Romaine, as he gathered with others at a news conference outside the future home of The Islamic Center of Shirley-Mastic on William Floyd Parkway.

“Religious freedom," Romaine added, "is a fundamental right in this country.”

The graffiti targeting the Islamic community was the first criminal incident at the site since the groundbreaking for the mosque in June, which brought out elected officials, law enforcement, and other community members. The Islamic Center of Shirley-Mastic mosque, 34,000 square feet and featuring a basketball court along with a food pantry, will be open to the entire community, regardless of faith, religious leaders say.

About 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, a 911 caller reported the vandalism of a construction banner that read: “New Mosque Coming Soon! Where Faith and Community Come Together.”

Police believe the banner, which was hung on an exterior fence along Tudor Lane, was vandalized between 6 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Investigators with the Suffolk police department's hate crime unit are now focused on finding the crime’s perpetrator. Detectives spent the weekend canvassing the area, reviewing video, and conducting interviews. The area around the mosque — and other houses of worship in Suffolk will face increased patrols, the police said.

“We know an incident like this can cause concern well beyond the people directly affected,” Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said at the news conference. “We want the congregation and our community to know that we are taking this very seriously and have committed the necessary resources to the investigation.”

This year, Suffolk County police have recorded six hate crime incidents, already the highest number seen in years, according to FBI statistics. The department reported zero hate crimes in 2024 and 2025, while seeing eight in 2023, according to the FBI. 

The Nassau County Police Department, meanwhile, did not appear to have hate crime information listed in the FBI database for 2026, but there were roughly 40 in 2024 and about 30 in 2025.

Mehdad Islam serves as assistant imam at The Islamic Center of Shirley-Mastic. He’s also the chaplain for the Suffolk County Police Department. And every week, he volunteers at the construction site, putting in 80 hours.

Islam said the vandalism left him hurt but noted: “You can vandalize a sign, but you can’t vandalize this community.”

“They may have vandalized our construction site — the sign with hateful words — but they will never vandalize our spirit, our faith and our future,” he said at the news conference, while wearing a hard hat and safety vest each inscribed with the mosque’s initials.

Newsday's Bart Jones contributed to this story.