Catholic Community Services calls for unity following ‘hate crime’ at Salt Lake City mosque

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Catholic Community Services Utah (CCS) and Masjid Al Noor (Noor Mosque) have called for unity and understanding following what they described as a “hate crime” at Noor Mosque in Salt Lake City.

On June 3, a man was caught on video attaching a flag with split designs of the Israeli and American flags to Noor Mosque. No one was harmed and no property damage was reported, but it was reported to Salt Lake City Police and the FBI.

In a press release from Aden Batar of Catholic Community Services and Dr. Salman Masud, former president of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake, they wrote:

“While no physical damage was done, this incident was clearly intended to provoke and intimidate our congregation, and we believe it should be investigated under bias crime statutes due to its targeted nature and context. The act has understandably caused distress in our community—particularly among our congregation of international students, many of whom already live with a sense of vulnerability.”

The release praised Utah for its spirit of hospitality as a place where people of all faiths can coexist peacefully, and they called to reaffirm a commitment to “dialogue over division” and “connection over suspicion.”

“We believe strongly that houses of worship should not become fortresses, but rather sanctuaries of reflection, welcome, and conversation,” the press release said.

Noor Mosque is going to be hosting a community open house and interfaith forum with the goal of encouraging “bridge-building and mutual understanding” in the coming weeks, though they have not set a date yet.

“We invite our neighbors of all backgrounds to stand with us in affirming the values of dignity, peace, and justice for all,” CCS wrote in the press release.