Video shows man trying to force his way into Montreal mosque, Muslim community shaken

Montreal’s Muslim community is shaken up, after video surveillance posted to social media shows a man trying to force his way into the Islamic Centre of Verdun during Friday prayers.

“We are very sad about that and we feel scared,” said Samer Elniz, spokesperson for the centre and communications coordinator for the Muslim Association of Canada in Quebec. “The last Friday of the year, so people are on vacation, we look to relax, we look for peace by doing prayer in a good manner, in a peaceful manner, and unfortunately, an accident like that shocks us.”

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CITYNEWS)

The video shows two male worshippers heading into the building on Verdun St. and the man seems to shout at them and jog after them – running across the street, cutting in front of a car.

The man then made threats and insults against the Muslim worshippers, pointing at them.

“They tried to storm into the mosque, but our congregants and people praying there stopped him,” Elniz said.

“We can discuss any ideas, we are open for everything but to try to go inside like that, it fears us and [makes us remember] the events of six years ago with the Quebec City mosque,” he added, referring to the Jan. 29, 2017 attack that left six Muslims dead, after a gunman entered during evening prayers.

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The video was posted by the Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC-CMF) on Facebook Dec. 31, as they condemned the attempted break-in on Dec. 30.

In a statement, they say “the FMC-CMF reiterates its warnings that Islamophobia is proving to be a very violent and extreme form of hatred and that delaying this phenomenon has dangerous implications for the security and harmony of society as a whole.”

Echoing this, Federal Justice Minister David Lametti, the MP for LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, denounced the incident on Twitter, calling it “unacceptable, disgusting” and emphasizing that “Islamophobia has no place in our community, or anywhere in Canada.”

“My heart goes out to the Muslim community of Verdun,” he wrote in the Dec. 31 Tweet. “If you have been affected, do not hesitate to ask for help. Resources are available and we will be there to support you.”

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Montreal police’s hate incidents and hate crimes unit is investigating the matter, after the local verdun police department transferred the file there. Police spokesperson Julien Lévesque says it’s all the information available at the moment to keep from interfering with the investigation.

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CITYNEWS)

“We need that every Canadian, every Quebecer can pray and feel really relaxed in this community and worship place,” Elniz said.

The FMC-CMF asks the authorities to deal quickly and seriously with the incident, calling for measures to ensure the protection of community centers and mosques in Quebec.

“I hope that this man really is to be taken to justice and to let him know that what he did is wrong,” Elniz says.

He wants to see reinforcements around all community institutions.

“We don’t like to see this action in any other worship place, not only in a mosque, even synagogue or church,” he said. “If you have any misunderstanding, any questions you can ask in a good manner, but not by forcing people.”