Muslims celebrate end of Ramadan with Joplin community

JoplinGlobe:  JOPLIN, Mo. — Though their mosque was destroyed earlier this month, Joplin Muslims came together Sunday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.

And they invited others from Joplin’s religious community — including Jews, Christians and Hindus — along with city officials and community leaders to share in the celebration. Some members described it as the Muslim equivalent of Christmas or Thanksgiving.

The event was at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, and a Joplin police patrol car was stationed at the front entrance.

The Islamic Society of Joplin mosque burned to the ground on Aug. 6. The FBI is continuing to investigate what officials at one point called a “suspicious” fire, though they say the cause of the fire cannot be determined. The mosque also was targeted on July 4, when a man was caught on surveillance video lighting a fuse on a package and tossing it onto the roof of the mosque. That fire caused minor damage.