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Worshipers at the Al-Tawheed Islamic Center on Logan Avenue in Jersey City say the mosque received a letter calling Muslims 'evil.' Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

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JERSEY CITY -- Worshipers at a West Side Islamic Center say the mosque received a letter calling Muslims "evil" and telling them to "go back to the desert," one of a number of hateful messages they say they have received in recent weeks.

The letter, which appears to have been written on a typewriter, came days after Muslim leaders met in Jersey City to say GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump's recent comments about Muslims is leading to more Islamophobic attacks. Yesterday, Trump called for a temporary ban on any Muslim entering the United States.

The letter, sent to the Al Tawheed Islamic Center on Logan Avenue, includes numerous disparaging comments about Muslims, and references comments Trump has made about "thousands and thousands" of people in Jersey City celebrating the 9/11 attacks, a claim that has been widely discredited.

"We do not want you here," the letter reads. "We do not like you. You are evil."

The letter ends: "Get the hell out of OUR COUNTRY and go back to the desert. GOD BLESS AMERICANS."

A worshiper at the Al Tawheed Islamic Center posted an image of the letter to Facebook last night, saying it is "insane to see something like this."

Ahmed Shedeed, who leads the Islamic Center of Jersey City on Park Street, denounced the letter, and said Trump is responsible for creating "hate."



"This is not America," Shedeed said. "I hope that the circle of hate will stop."

The Logan Avenue mosque was formerly located on West Side Avenue, a location that was the site of a devastating fire in February 2014 that forced worshipers to pray at the Jersey City Armory.

Shedeed said his mosque has not received any hate mail or phone calls.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.