US: Muslim rights group offers reward in car vandalism

WASHINGTON

The US's largest Muslim civil rights organization is offering a $1,000 reward for information that will help arrest the perpetrator who vandalized a Muslim’s property in the state of Massachusetts.

Swastikas were spray painted June 11 on all four sides of the victim’s car in Revere. It is the fourth time the car has been vandalized, according to the victim’s husband.

Barbara J. Dougan, civil rights director of the Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, condemned the "appalling act of hatred."

"The perpetrator made his views clear with a can of spray paint. But we know that many residents of Revere are outraged by such a blatant hate crime and are raising their voices to send their own message: this kind of behavior will not be tolerated," she said in a statement.

The victim requested her identity be not disclosed but CAIR-MA said she uses the car to deliver medical supplies to sick people, according local news and information platform Patch.

"You hurt me with your hate, but you also hurt the sick people I am trying to take care of. If you are from Revere, you hurt your entire community," she said.

Police launched an investigation Saturday into the incident as "a possible hate crime."