Faith leaders stood inside the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington on Tuesday afternoon to call for forgiveness nearly five years after three men traveled from out of state to bomb the mosque.
Imam Mohamed Omar, the mosque's Executive Director, said he was just feet away from the bomb that exploded during the early morning hours of August 7, 2017.
"The bomb landed right where we are standing," Omar said. "The whole room was destroyed. I was in the next room, behind the brick wall. If it was sheetrock, I wouldn't be here today."
On Tuesday, Michael McWhorter, 33, and Joe Morris, 26, were sentenced for their roles in the bombing. McWhorter received a sentence of nearly 16 years while Morris received a sentence of more than 14 years.
The attack's mastermind, Emily Claire Hari, formerly known as Michael Hari, was sentenced to 53 years in 2020.
"Today is a historic day for us as we stand together here after the bomb landed here before morning prayer," Omar said. "That was, for us, a horrifying moment. Through that we lost our sense of security, it damaged us as a community, brought us a lot of fear, and we lost a lot of family members. A lot of community members who used to come to the center almost didn't come back until today."
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More than 100 faith leaders called for leniency as Judge Donovan Frank sentenced McWhorter and Morris.
"We as a community stood by [McWhorter and Morris] and showed forgiveness and compassion because of our fait," added Omar. "Because of our faith and what brought us together in this building, this is our mosque, and the reason we came here is to worship God, be kind, and to love one another. That very value is one that we lived today."
Imam Asad Zaman, with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, said both McWhorter and Morris had expressed regret and remorse in the years since the bombing.
"In a profound act of healing for our community in living with our faith, our community has chosen to forgive them and has chosen to want or to attempt to welcome the back into the community of fellow humanity," Zaman said. "We are able, despite our pain, to see the humanity of our fellow human beings and to understand their mitigating circumstances, which is why we asked the judge for leniency."
Leniency, however, was not sought out when it came to Hari's sentencing.
"We think their is redemption for humanity for all human beings. Our community, in its pain, has extended this grace and mercy to those who have wronged us."
Authorities say Hari led a militia group called the White Rabbits that plotted the attack against the mosque and that Hari was motivated by her hatred towards Muslims.
On Tuesday, a member of the Illinois church that Hari attended spoke inside the mosque.
"We've known him for some time. We can't explain what happened and are very, very sorry for what happened," he said. "This has been a very moving experience and believe the court system was very fair. We're especially been touched by the mercy, love, and justice that this Muslim community has shown. It's been very inspiring."
McWhorter and Morris had also pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from militia activity in Illinois.