Local Muslims Protest Vandalism & Stereotyping
Posted June 9, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The windows smashed by a vandal at a west end mosque have been repaired, but members of the Muslim community say there’s still much work to be done to fix the damage to their reputation.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair met with Muslim leaders last weekend after a vandal targeted the Rexdale mosque – a crime investigators believe was linked to the arrests of 17 terror suspects and fuelled by hate – and members of the community expressed concern about their personal safety.
Young Muslims organized a meeting at the International Muslim Organization of Toronto on Rexdale Boulevard Friday night because they feel their community has been painted as terrorists following the high-profile arrests and the string of disturbing allegations that followed.
“The purpose of this event is to present to the Canadian masses the contribution of Muslim youth to Canadian society and not only the contribution, but the contribution to the betterment of this society,” organizer Sayed Reza explained.
The 17 suspects were arrested last Friday night. Twenty-four hours later, 28 windows were broken at the house of worship in Rexdale.
“We know that the majority of Canadian Muslims are law-abiding citizens, and as such should be free from hate-mongering, harassment, racism or violence,” said one attendee.
But members of the congregation said something good came out of that terrible attack.
“It was amazing to see the outreach, the outpouring of support from the community at large. Every Canadian from every walk of life, just walked in the centre,” Omar Farouk, President of the International Muslims Organization, said.
“We are very optimistic about the future in Canada and each and every one of us, as Canadian Muslims, we do have an equal commitment towards the security of this country.”
