Islamophobic drawings mailed to Montreal mosque days into Ramadan: NCCM

WARNING: This article contains offensive images

Montreal’s Muslim community is feeling threatened, says a prominent Muslim group, after three Islamophobic drawings were allegedly sent to a mosque in the city.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) says the images, which they call hateful and racist, were received in the mail by the Islamic Centre of Quebec in Saint-Laurent on Tuesday.

“One of the greatest mosques that we have in Quebec and Montreal have received these pictures. It is absolutely unacceptable,” said Yasser Lahlou, the Quebec advocacy officer with the NCCM.

“Mosques are places of worship, places where people gather to pray together and to come together in difficult times. Especially in difficult times, actually… It’s very sad to see that it keeps happening day after day, year after year.”

CityNews and OMNI News have chosen not to show the more graphic elements of the cartoon images.

In one, a man wearing a Montreal Canadiens shirt kicks a turbaned man, who is holding a gun and a grenade and has the word “Hamas” on his chest, out of Quebec.

In another, a bearded man with a bomb strapped to his stomach is drinking alcohol alongside a pig – a likely reference to typical Islamic dietary restrictions.

In the third a pig in a sexual act with a turbaned man and a camel using an expletive about the Muslim community.

In all three, the image of a mosque is in a circle and crossed out.

“The reaction of the community is very simple,” Lahlou said. “They feel threatened. When they see these types of images, it makes them feel that they’re not welcome. It is very sad and they want to see people, our leaders, speak out against these images and hateful attacks and actions.

“Everyone should speak out against these pictures.”

Lahlou feels the timing of the images being sent to a mosque is not coincidental, happening just days into the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The sacred month, which sees those observing abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset, marks a period of religious reflection, family get-togethers and giving across the Muslim world.

“The community doesn’t feel very safe, especially in a month from Ramadan where peace is extremely important,” Lahlou said. “People come to the mosque to gather, to pray, to worship. So definitely the worshippers do not feel safe and it is very sad to see that happening during this month.

“It’s not the first time when you got this hatred crime during Ramadan. Last year the Al Omah Mosque has been targeted during Ramadan.”

This year’s Ramadan comes as the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip is intensifying in the Middle East. It’s raised fears the conflict may spark unrest far beyond the current borders of the war.

If the images are connected to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Lahlou feels that’s “very racist and discriminatory.”

“People in Quebec, Muslims in Quebec have nothing to do with what’s happening thousands of miles away,” he said. “People just want to come to the mosque, they want to do their things, they want to pray, they want to worship together. And that’s it. It has nothing to do with what’s happening. They have nothing to do with what’s happening abroad thousands of miles away.”

“Our community is tired of seeing these things happening, and I think that the government should put some actions to fight Islamophobia and spread awareness,” said Montrealer Maryam Laoufi. “We should spread awareness on Islamophobia, explain to people why Islamophobia is bad, what is Islamophobia, and just if someone has any questions about Muslim, he or she should feel free to ask because we’re not mean. We can answer and we’re actually good people. We just want to be safe in our city and we want to live in harmony.” 

The NCCM said Montreal police are aware of the situation and “taking it very seriously.”

“They’re investigating the matter,” Lahlou explained. “We’re expecting our elected officials and our leaders to speak out against this. But speaking out is not enough. Action needs to be taken. So we’re waiting to see action on this and how to protect the Muslim community in the future.

“Action should be taken to prevent that from happening again and again and again.”

Montreal police (SPVM) spokesperson Véronique Dubuc said that the Hate Crimes Unit is investigating, but it’s not being considered a hate crime at the moment, its a reported incident, and they are looking into who sent it. They’re in contact with those responsible at the Islamic Centre of Quebec and with people within the area. She said this is the only incident recently reported there.

The borough of Saint-Laurent said in a press release that, “it would like to remind everyone that any act or speech of a hateful nature is unacceptable. Saint-Laurent will cooperate with the authorities investigating this incident and urges anyone with information to contact the Info-crime line at 514-393-1133.”

“On behalf of the Saint-Laurent council, I strongly condemn this deplorable incident, which runs totally counter to the climate in which we want to see our children grow up,” said Alan DeSousa, Mayor of Saint-Laurent. “I am, however, convinced that this is an isolated incident in our community, as we have always promoted the values of respect, sharing and exchange. I remain convinced that these values are alive and well in our community, and that they are shared by our citizens. Saint-Laurent has always been recognized as an example of intercultural harmony, as well as a welcoming and safe territory for all families who choose to settle here, and we will spare no effort to ensure that it remains so.”

—With files from The Associated Press