A mosque in Trois-Rivières was targeted by vandalism Wednesday.
The Mauricie Islamic Cultural Centre said in a Facebook post that windows of the main facade of the mosque were smashed with stones.
“When a place of worship is attacked, it sends a message of intimidation to an entire community,” the centre said. “No one should have to wonder whether they can practice their faith safely in their own country.”
In a statement, the Canadian Muslim Forum (CMF) denounced the attack as an act of “Islamophobic vandalism.”
The organization says the incident comes on the back of online harassment of the local Muslim community during a prayer gathering recently.
“While the damage may be limited to broken windows, the message behind this act is far more serious,” said Samer Majzoub, president of CMF.
“When Islamophobia hatred is allowed to spread unchecked, it creates an environment where intimidation and violence become more likely. No citizens should fear for their safety because of their faith,” he added.
CMF called for an investigation into the incident to determine if it was motivated by hate.
