Members of a Cambridge mosque that was the target of a break-in and vandalism Wednesday are calling the crime an act of hate after learning Islamic literature and boxes filled with books and flyers were destroyed in the daytime rampage.
“We are deeply troubled to learn of this attack on the Baitul Kareem Mosque,” said national president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Canada,Lal Khan Malik. “Our mosques have always served as symbols of peace in the community, and it is hurtful for us to see our mosque attacked and vandalized in this fashion.”
It's believed the break-in to the Elliott Street mosque happened July 14 between 2 and 4 pm., said Asif Khan, national media relations spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Canada, Canada's largest national Muslim community.
"Our Imam arrived on the scene close to 4 p.m., noticed some commotion going on inside, some noise. He didn't continue to enter just to keep himself safe. He left, called the local president who arrived in 15 minutes, called police and police arrived by 5 (p.m.)."
Khan said the police investigation involved taking fingerprints, which were "noticeable" among the damage, which has been estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
He said a television and security system were stolen during the break-in.
"Is it targeted Muslim hate? I would hate to think so, but it's possible," Khan said. "The fact that the literature and things you would have in a mosque were all tossed and turned. Then strange things like ripping the stove apart. It looks juvenile, it looks targeted. I guess police will make the final determination."
Khan said although this mosque has never been targeted to this extent and has otherwise been a welcome presence in the community, there was an incident involving graffiti a couple of months ago that was "quickly painted over by the locals."
"We're an active community," Khan said. "We always try to be there for outreach to create bridges of understanding and religious harmony."
"It's really unfortunate. Canada, we still consider Canada to be one of the best western countries with regards to plurality and religious freedom and interreligous harmony, however these types of activities have been on the rise."
"Anti-muslim or anti-semitism or anti-anything has kind of been on the rise the last few years and that's unfortunate," Khan said.
"We hope that's not a trend that continues in Canada, that these things are one-offs."
In the wake of attacks against the Muslim community in recent months, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Canada has heightened security measures at its mosques and prayer centres across the country, Khan said.
