Hate graffiti sprayed in home of Iran refugee

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Troutdale man returned home after 3 days out of town to find his house extensively damaged and covered in hateful graffiti Tuesday night.

“I thought it was just a joke or something. I looked at it for a few seconds,” Hasel Afshar said.

Hate-filled messages were spray painted on surfaces in every room of the house, including the on TV, fridge and toilet. The graffiti included anti-Muslim messages and a note threatening the man’s life weighed down with bullets arranged in the shape of a cross.

Afshar is a refugee from Iran who came to America in 2010. He admits it has not always been easy and discrimination like this only makes it more difficult.

“I think this is a great country but I don’t know, it’s just a lot of racist people,” Afshar said.

Despite what the vandal seemed to believe, Afshar is not a Muslim. He is of the Baha’I faith.

Afshar’s neighbor, KC Culver, said it made him sick to see the damage. He wants Afshar to know his neighbors are there for him.

“There’s been a lot of support a lot of people wanting to help to get his home cleaned up and repaired, do anything we can to help him. He’s a nice guy,” Culver said.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said the graffiti includes statements consistent with intimidation/bias crime. Detectives are investigating. The FBI and Council on American-Islamic Relations are involved in the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact 503.988.0560.