Cambridge Islamic Centre Receives Community Support After Hate Graffiti

IQNA – The Islamic Centre of Cambridge has been shown support by the community and political leaders after hate-motivated graffiti was found on its building on Monday.

The centre's chairperson, Mohammad Darr, said he was thankful for the solidarity and that this was the first incident of its kind since the 1980s, CBC News reported on Thursday.

Waterloo Regional Police said they were investigating the graffiti, which included a cross and other symbols, as a hate crime.

The graffiti was believed to have been put on the building between Sunday night and Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh both condemned the graffiti on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. Trudeau called it "alarming, abhorrent, and unacceptable" and Singh said it showed the "deeply troubling" rise of Islamophobia.

Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett also issued a statement, saying the city was "dealing with common graffiti on a fairly regular basis" but this was "a different type of graffiti" that targeted "one of our deeply valued cultural and religious institutions".

He said the graffiti did not reflect the spirit of the community and that Cambridge was a home for all.

Source: Agencies