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Concerns raised after Reports Of an Individual Firing an Air Gun at the Windows of a Montreal Mosque
4-14-2021
(Montreal - April 6, 2021)
A Montreal mosque, the Centre Communautaire Islamique Assahaba, reported that they were ostensibly targeted by a masked man firing an air gun at the windows of the mosque.
To the best of our knowledge, no one was injured.
"This has been yet another devestating blow to the feeling of safety and security for Quebec Muslims," said Yusuf Faqiri, Quebec Director of Public Affairs for NCCM, "It was only in September 2020 when we had the murder of Mohamed-Aslim Zafis outside the IMO mosque in Etobicoke at the hands of a man with alleged ties to a white supremacist group. It was only on January 29, 2017, that we had the Quebec City Mosque massacre. While a more fulsome investigation needs to be completed before we can understand the motivations of the attacker, it is clear that we all have to work together to stamp out all forms of hate and Islamophobia."
Several politicians have condemned the incident, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "While I’m relieved nobody was injured, I’m deeply disturbed by the vandalism targeting Montreal’s Centre communautaire islamique Assahaba earlier this week. It is completely unacceptable."
the tweet read in part.
The tragedy of Quebec City is still fresh in our memories. We didn’t forget what happened. Innocent people were killed. In this place, we have Aymen Derbali who testified about what he was suffering in his body, so it was hard for all the community,” said Imam Adil Charkaoui, who also works with Collective Anti-Islamophobia.
“Of course, we were terrified about our children. The children who come to the mosque, parents who bring their kids and trust them to us to take care of them. All of this, of course, terrifies the community as easily someone is pointing a gun and shooting,” said Salam Elmenyawi, president of Muslim Council Montreal.
At the time of the shooting, just before 7 p.m. Monday, 12 adults were taking part in an Arabic course happening inside the Centre Communautaire Islamique Assahaba in Montreal’s Rosemont.
“[There] was no panic because they did not understand it was a gun outside,” said Charkaoui.
Fortunately, no one was injured and there was only material damage to the window.
“It’s very important for police to make sure to find that culprit because if they go free then it’s going to be repeated,” said Elmenyawi.
Montreal police say their hate crimes unit is investigating the incident, collaborating with mosque officials, trying to identify possible suspects using the surveillance footage that was originally posted on the mosque’s Facebook page.
“The video and those pictures help the police first. And they help us to send a message to all society it was unacceptable,” said Charkaoui.
“All these are attacks on mosques. Sometimes the same mosque attacked three or four times,” said Elmenyawi.
This mosque has been targeted before, along with other Muslim places of worship last fall in a string of attacks.
Community leaders calling on the province to recognize the issue and are asking those of all faiths to take a stand against the violence.
“[The attackers’] message is clear: ‘We don’t like you here. We have an issue with you,’” said Elmenyawi.
“We have to send a clear message that those minority cannot divide us,” said Charkaoui.
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