A Muslim couple were told to leave a mall in Arkansas after the police received a report that a suspicious-looking man was videotaping the mall.
Couple Alan and Daphne Crawford, who were wearing a thobe and a hijab, were escorted out of the Central Mall by the police on Dec. 19.
"I had two unknown subjects come up to me and advise me that a male subject wearing a thobe was video recording everyone in the mall and he was video-taping the entrances of several stores," wrote Fort Smith Police Officer Anthony Cox in his police report.
Mall security officers told Crawford that he could not make a video recording inside the mall based on store policy, according to 5News/KFSM.
Pictures of the couple and their son being led out of the mall were posted on Facebook.
One post described it as "cops escorting terrorists from the mall." Police have not confirmed any threat.
Crawford said a police officer approached him and asked for his driver's license.
"He informed me that he needed me to lift up my thobe in order to obtain my ID. What crime I committed, I don't know," he said. "I wasn't aware that police officers show up five at a time to enforce mall law. If you want me to leave, I will leave happily."
Crawford said he went to the mall to hand out cards for a local charity and shop.
"We purchased about $200 worth of Sperry shoes, which I'd be happy to show everybody. There's nothing better than Sperrys. These things last about two to three years a piece and some beautiful Armani glasses from Lens Crafters. And these are the crimes we committed at the mall this weekend," he said.
He said he only recorded audio inside the mall.
"I audio recorded the police officer and held my camera in the manner that would lead him to believe that I did video tape while he screamed at me and told me that 'I can confiscate your phone'. You can't confiscate my phone for mall law. I violated mall law, OK? Which wasn't even clearly posted," he said.
He said people should "spread love not hate."
"Co-exist. Spread love not hate. This is what this world is about. Whether you are Christian, Jewish, atheist. I don't care. Spread love not hate. I don't care what religion you are. Killing someone for your religion is wrong. Completely wrong," Crawford said.
A flyer of the couple's pictures has also been posted on Facebook that asks people to call the police if they are seen out.
Crawford said because of this, they are planning to move.
"It's sad really. Anyone can come up to us and ask us anything they want to ask us. We stopped and spoke with a couple in the mall and they ended up sticking up with us later on Facebook saying that they had met us and we were a Muslim family trying to do holiday shopping. It's kind of scary," said Daphne Crawford.
