Montreal’s Muslim community concerned following anti-Palestinian graffiti on downtown mosque

Montreal’s Muslim community is shaken, following an incident of vandalism at a downtown mosque earlier this week.

The Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization (CIIC) on Belmont Street downtown was defaced with anti-Palestinian graffiti on June 10.

“We had been harassed by the vandalism here,” said worshipper, Ahmed Sobhi.

Spray painted on its exterior wall: the F-word and then Gaza.

The incident has caused concern among some worshippers at the mosque, amid rising tensions due to the Israel-Hamas war.

“When you see Canada and other Western communities says that they are freedom countries, and you see these attacks against the Muslim communities here, like it’s a disappointing fact,” said Mohamed, another worshipper and Algerian student.

In a statement to CityNews, the Muslim Association of Canada says they strongly condemns what they call a “vile act of hate-motivated vandalism.”

Meanwhile the Canadian Muslim Forum, says it is “a shameful act of anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic aggression.”

“The government has to do more about it,” said Amin Harraj, a worshipper at the CIIC. “I know they are working to protect every community, but it’s like there is a battle between politicians inside the same government, I mean provincial or federal government, which [do not] take into consideration seriously these attacks.”

Montreal police’s hate crimes unit has taken over the investigation.

Since Oct. 7, 2023 – the start of the war – up to June 11 of this year, the force has seen 86 reported hate crimes or hate incidents against the Arab-Muslim community in Montreal. 273 reports against the Jewish community.