Islamberg, New York

Islamberg (Arabic: إسلامبيرج‎) is a rural hamlet and religious community in the town of Tompkins, Delaware County, New York.[1]

Islamberg, New York
Hamlet
Nickname(s):  Holy Islamberg
Islamberg Location of Islamberg in New York
Coordinates: 42°03′08″N 75°20′06″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Delaware
Town	Tompkins
Population
• Total	200

History

Islamberg was settled by a group of mostly black Muslim families in the 1980s,[2] who sought to escape the troubles of New York City.[3] The group was inspired by Sufi Cleric Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani and sought a more "peaceful and holy Muslim life".[4][5] Islamberg has a population of about 200,[2] along with its own grocery store, bookstore, and school.[3] The community serves as the headquarters of Muslims of America, which seeks to promote an understanding of Islam.[6]

Public safety

Although relations with neighboring communities are cooperative,[5] Islamberg has repeatedly faced threats and persecution originating from false right-wing conspiracy theories spread online.[7] Right-wing groups have claimed that Islamberg is a training center for terrorists, claims which local law enforcement and state police investigators say are untrue.[6]

In November 2015, Jon Ritzheimer, of Phoenix, Arizona, made news for threatening an attack on Islamberg.[8] In June 2017, a Tennessee man, Robert Doggart, was sentenced to almost 20 years in prison for plotting an attack on Islamberg.[9][10] In January 2019, three men and one male minor were arrested for plotting an attack on Islamberg with explosives.[11][12][13] Police found 23 firearms and three homemade bombs that investigators claim were going to be used to attack the hamlet.[14]

See also

• Holy Islamville, South Carolina

References

1. ""Cannonsville Reservoir" 7.5 minute quadrangle". U.S. Geological Survey/ACME Mapper. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
2. "Planned Attack On Muslim Community In Upstate New York Disrupted, Police Say". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
3. "Islamberg: A Terror Compound in New York ... or Misunderstood Neighbors?". Fox News. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
4. "Islamberg: A Terror Compound in New York ... or Misunderstood Neighbors?", foxnews.com; accessed May 3, 2014.
5. Laila, Kearney (June 1, 2015). "A tranquil Muslim hamlet in the Catskills - until the attack plot". Reuters. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
6. Novacic, Ines (July 16, 2015). "Muslim enclave in U.S. battles suspicion, alleged threats". cbsnews.com.
7. Rojas, Rick (2019-01-28). "They Created a Muslim Enclave in Upstate N.Y. Then Came the Online Conspiracies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
8. Michaud, Chris (November 29, 2015). "Upstate New York town threatened by Arizona man in online post: reports". Reuters. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
9. "Tennessee man sentenced over plot to attack Muslim community", reuters.com, June 15, 2017; accessed Dec 17, 2017.
10. "America Snores When Christian Terrorist Threatens to Massacre Muslims", thedailybeast.com, May 18, 2015; accessed May 20, 2015.
11. Thompson, Howard (2019-01-22). "Court docs: Three men near Rochester charged in bomb plot against Muslim community". WIVB. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
12. WHAM (22 January 2019). "Police: Four plotted to attack NY Muslim community with IEDs, 23 guns". WKRC. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
13. "Four held over NY 'plot' against Muslims". 23 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
14. Folley, Aris (January 23, 2019). "Four arrested in bomb plot targeting Muslim community in New York". The Hill.