California Muslim Cemetery Vandalized

July 22, 2003

Source: Daily Press

On July 22, 2003 the Daily Press reported that "decorative funerary statues smashed on graves. Headstones toppled and white paint poured over a marble grave marker... That was the scene Monday after vandals damaged five graves at a Muslim cemetery in Adelanto [CA] on Sunday night, San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials said... In dollar terms, the vandalism is estimated at $285. But the incident goes deeper than mere money... Ali Khawaja, who manages the cemetery, said this is the second or third such incident in a year. Prior to last year, the north Adelanto grounds had been undisturbed for over a decade, he said."