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Calgary mosque vandalized for second time in a week
11-01-2016
For the second Friday in a row, a Calgary mosque has been vandalized.
The glass on the front door of the Ranchlands Mosque in northwest Calgary was smashed, officials from the Islamic Association of NW Calgary (IANWC) discovered on Saturday morning.
A sign indicating that the mosque was open during construction was also thrown in the parking lot, they said.
The vandalism mirrors a similar incident last week at the southeast Islamic centre in Queensland, where the glass was smashed and a Quran burnt.
Once again, the group has called for dialogue with the person who targeted the centre, not revenge.
"IANWC firmly believes in harmony, peace, and love for everyone in and around our neighbourhood," said Dr. Abdur Rahman, IANWC chairman in a statement on Saturday.
Beenish Khurshid says it's disappointing to see the damage at the mosque, but says she isn't afraid.
"It was a little bit hurtful, but really that's just a small minority of the population that does acts like these," Khurshid said.
"The vast majority of Canadians are quite welcoming and we really enjoy the love and respect that the Ranchlands community gives us," she added.
Rahman said IANWC members enjoy good relations with their neighbours. They partnered with Ranchlands Community Association (RCA) to organize this year's Stampede Breakfast. And every year, about 100 Muslim volunteers shovel snow on Christmas day in the neighbourhood.
Next month, the mosque will open its doors for all community members to visit, in an event called 'Our House is Your House.'
The two incidents this week are the latest in a series of attacks on religious groups in Alberta.
Earlier this month, about 40 anti-Muslim posters were plastered around the University of Calgary campus.
More posters targeting Sikhs hit the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton late last month.
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