BALLWIN, Mo. (AP) — The burned-out mosque in Joplin will be rebuilt, but St. Louis-area Muslim, interfaith and civil rights leaders say fires there are emblematic of hatred against Muslims around the U.S.

Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious leaders and civil rights advocates spoke at a news conference Tuesday in support of Muslims in Joplin.

 

A July 4 arson fire damaged the Joplin mosque, and a second fire on Aug. 6 destroyed it. The second fire has been labeled suspicious. An investigation continues.

Faizan Syed of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says more than $400,000 has been donated toward rebuilding in Joplin — evidence of widespread support. But he also notes that in just a little over a week since the Joplin fire, eight other attacks have occurred around against Muslims around the country.