San Francisco resident Robert Gray, 35, was arrested on Wednesday evening for allegedly vandalizing the Masjid al-Tawheed mosque in Nob Hill. Gray faces charges of felony vandalism and a misdemeanor violation of civil rights by damaging another property. He is currently in custody at a county jail.
The arrest came after San Francisco Police officers responded to a call from mosque congregants who recognized Gray from security footage. The incident occurred on April 4, when the suspect was captured on surveillance video smashing multiple mosque windows. Gray returned to the mosque on Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting mosque-goers to confront him and call the police.
According to Yemeni American Aseel Fara, a member of the Masjid al-Tawheed mosque and a San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commissioner, the incident has left the community in fear. Fara expressed shock at the act of vandalism, highlighting the diverse and inclusive nature of San Francisco that attracted many immigrants to the city.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Bay Area chapter welcomed Gray’s arrest, emphasizing the importance of protecting places of worship and ensuring the safety of all individuals. Executive Director Zahra Billoo stated that hate-driven behaviors should not be overlooked and that the arrest serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in combating Islamophobia.
While the number of complaints of Islamophobia has reached a 30-year high, with 8,061 reports received by CAIR last year, this incident represents a 56% increase in incidents from 2022 to 2023. Billoo attributed this rise to the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel, which resulted in the killing of over 30,000 Palestinians by Israeli forces.
