ORLANDO, Fla. - An Orlando Muslim family said Sunday that they might be victims of a hate crime after a bullet was shot into their house.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida said that it is investigating the case with their attorneys to determine whether the family was targeted.
Amir and Nehal Elmasri said that when they returned home to their gated community from feeding the homeless Sunday morning, they noticed a bullet hole in their garage door. The family said that the bullet went through their garage and into their master bedroom.
"Just a little bit of a black hole in a beige garage door, when we parked right there," said Amir Elmasri. "So, it's in front of my eyes and I said, 'What is that?'"
The bullet stopped after getting lodged in their dresser drawer.
CAIR Florida said that if the family was targeted, they aren't the only ones.
"The American Muslim community has faced severe backlash since the Paris terror attacks," said Rasha Mubarak with CAIR Florida. "There have been two death threats to local mosques in central Florida alone."
The family has four children. They said that their daughter painted a picture with her girl scout troop in wake of the attacks in Paris, calling for peace.
"They decided they wanted to do something," said Nehal Elmasri. "Actually, they were having art class, but after the incident that happened in Paris, they just changed it to how we can support them there."
Nehal said that she and her daughter wear traditional hijabs in public, adding that it's obvious for anyone to be aware of their Muslim faith.
Neighbors also told News 6 that they believed the family was targeted because of their faith.
Amir Elmasri said he's lived in the United States for 32 years and nothing like this has ever happened. He said his religious beliefs do not tolerate violence.
"You go and read what Islam teaching is, unbias, just the books about Islam or the Koran translated and you will see, it is not the teaching," Amir Elmasri said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office has not said if the incident is being called a hate crime, only saying that the case is an ongoing open investigation.
Copyright 2015 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.
