Muslim grave vandalized in Chicago

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CHICAGO, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Police said they're not sure why one out of hundreds of Muslim graves at a Chicago cemetery has been vandalized six times in 17 months.

Hassan Mustafa Hassan Abdallah died in 1999 at the age of 73, but only recently have vandals started scrawling anti-Muslim and anti-gay slogans and gang symbols on a headstone, bench and concrete slab at his grave, police Lt. Pete Donovan said.

Donovan said police believe the same person or group of people are behind all the vandalism incidents, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.

"I can't speculate," he said. "I don't know if they're doing it because of race or if maybe there was some connection (with Abdallah). Hopefully that will come out in the investigation when we find this person."

Abdallah's widow, whose name was not reported, said she doesn't believe the attacks are personally motivated.

"I feel certain that it has nothing to do with him individually," she said. "It's just hate crimes against Muslims. He was a fabulous person and loved by everyone," she added.

Cemetery employees said the latest incident occurred sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning, the newspaper reported.