PLAINFIELD, Ind. — American Muslims refuse to be victims in their own country, the secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America said Monday after vulgar, anti-Muslim graffiti was spray-painted on an exterior wall of the group’s headquarters in suburban Indianapolis.

“Muslims will not abandon our faith simply because of some spray paint or even worse,” Hazem Bata said at a news conference at which he was joined by hundreds of members of other faiths and interfaith groups to condemn the vandalism, lend their support to the Muslim community and call on lawmakers to approve an Indiana hate-crimes law.

The graffiti applied Sunday morning while Muslims were praying inside the headquarters’ mosque included profanity, racial epithets and references to suicide bombings and the Islamic State

The spray paint has been washed away, but ISNA’s interfaith partners “are still here,” Bata said.

“I want to thank the vandals for highlighting the fact that the bonds between Muslims and their fellow Americans and the bonds between Muslims and their brothers and sisters in other faiths is stronger than the bond between spray paint and brick,” Bata said.

He also suggested anybody thinking of doing something similar to simply knock on the door of the headquarters located about 15 miles west of Indianapolis.

“If you’re going to bother to drive all the way to a mosque, walk up to the front door. Instead of spray painting the wall around the front door, just try knocking instead. We will gladly open our doors to you. We will invite you in. We will answer any questions you have. More than likely, we’re going to feed you some really good kebabs and biryani. We’re going to break bread together. And you’ll walk away with a full stomach, as well as having learned something about your fellow Americans,” Bata said.

Plainfield Police Capt. Jill Lees said the vandals did not attempt to enter the building.

In a news release, ISNA said security cameras showed three people were responsible for the vandalism. However, Lees said the footage was not clear enough to identify any suspects.

The FBI is aware of the vandalism and is in regular contact local authorities, spokeswoman Special Agent Wendy Osborne said.

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