The Sikh Temple of Spokane was vandalized by a man who mistakenly thought the temple was a mosque and was affiliated with the ISIS terror organization. Gurjeet Singh Aujla, the priest at the temple, said the temple’s Sikh holy book was defaced and pages were ripped from it. “No hate will be tolerated in Spokane […]

The Sikh Temple of Spokane was vandalized by a man who mistakenly thought the temple was a mosque and was affiliated with the ISIS terror organization.

Gurjeet Singh Aujla, the priest at the temple, said the temple’s Sikh holy book was defaced and pages were ripped from it.

“No hate will be tolerated in Spokane County,” Knezovich said at an afternoon press conference at the temple’s community building.

Jeffrey C. Pittman, 44, was arrested Thursday morning inside the temple after a short altercation with officers. He was wearing no clothing and holding a ceremonial sword from the temple, sheriff’s officials said.

Pittman was convinced the temple was a mosque connected with ISIS, responsible for the brutal terrorist attacks of Iraq and Syria.

As reported, About $30,000 in damage was done to the interior of the temple.

“Our hearts are broken,” said Subarna Nagra, a member of the temple.

“Sikh values are intrinsic to who we are,” Condon said.
Higgins said, “This not who the people of the Valley are…I hope justice will be swift.”

The incident comes at a time when hate rhetoric has gotten more heated across the U.S.
“I am definitely hurt,” she said. “At the same time, we are a compassionate community.”

Actions like this are indicative of growing Islamophobic sentiment across our nation, where there has been a steady increase in backlash and hate crimes targeting Muslim, Sikh, South Asian and Arab communities.

~ Source: www.spokesman.com