Montreal police investigating after a mosque was defaced with hateful graffiti
Incident shows growing convergence of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, says organization
WARNING: This story contains language and an image that is offensive.
The Montreal police hate crimes unit is investigating after a mosque in the city's downtown was defaced with anti-Palestinian graffiti earlier this week.
The words "F--k Gaza" were painted multiple times on the exterior walls of The Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization, at the intersection of Belmont Street and Union Avenue, Tuesday evening.
The organization that manages the mosque, the Muslim Association of Canada, said no one was injured, and that the incident isn't an isolated one. It's calling on officials to bring awareness to the growing convergence of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism given heightened tensions due to the situation in Gaza.
"It reflects a dangerous national climate in which mosques, Muslims, Palestinians, and Canadians who speak out for Gaza are increasingly targeted and vilified," it said in a statement.
Montreal police say they are looking at surveillance footage and no arrests have been made.
The number of reported hate crimes and incidents in Montreal rose in 2024 with most of them targeting ethnicity, national origin, skin colour and religion, police said in its annual review report.
Written by Cassandra Yanez-Leyton