The Latest: Lawyers: Client’s Words at Mosque Were Protected
The Latest on the arraignment hearing of two Arizona women charged with burglarizing a mosque (all times local):
11:59 a.m.
An attorney for one of two Arizona woman charged with burglarizing a mosque as they made derogatory comments about Muslims says his client’s case is about her exercise of free speech rights.
Tahnee Gonzales of Glendale and Elizabeth Dauenhauer of Phoenix filmed themselves on March 4 as they removed fliers and Qurans in a courtyard behind the Islamic Community Center in Tempe.
Gonzales and Dauenhauer pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of burglary and criminal damage.
Marc Victor, an attorney representing Gonzales, says his client’s intent in going to the mosque was to make political statements.
Victor says the mosque is open to the public, and that Islamic center intended for people to take the material that the women walked away with.
11:45 a.m.
Two women have pleaded not guilty to burglary charges for allegedly taking pamphlets and other items from an Arizona mosque as they made derogatory remarks about Muslims.
Tahnee Gonzales and Elizabeth Dauenhauer made the pleas Thursday to the charges stemming from their actions on March 4 at the Islamic Community Center in Tempe.
They filmed themselves removing fliers and Qurans in a fenced-in courtyard behind the mosque.
They referred to Muslims as devil worshippers, made sexually derogatory comments about them and claimed Muslims were taking advantage of Americans by using public benefits.
The video, posted on Gonzales’ social media account, shows the women walking past a no-trespassing sign on a gate leading into the courtyard.
11:09 p.m.
Two Arizona women are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on burglary charges for allegedly taking pamphlets and other items from a Tempe mosque.
Authorities say 32-year-old Tahnee Gonzales of Glendale and 51-year-old Elizabeth Dauenhauer of Phoenix filmed themselves and their children at the Islamic Community Center on March 4 as they spouted hate speech while they removed flyers and Qurans.
A video posted on Gonzales’ Facebook page shows the women and their children walking past the mosque’s no-trespassing sign.
In the video, the women described Muslims as “Satan worshippers” and made other derogatory remarks about Muslims.
One of the women shouted insults at a man outside the mosque who described himself as a practicing Muslim.
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