TORONTO — York Regional Police are investigating anti-Arab messages that were spray-painted on the sidewalk in front of a Thornhill Woods mosque on Sunday evening.
The graffiti, which read “Arabs go home” and “F— Gaza,” was spray-painted in front of the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat (ISIAJ)’s Jaffari Centre mosque at 9000 Bathurst St., south of Rutherford Road, while worshippers attended Ramadan services.
Rom Koubi, chair of the Association to Preserve Thornhill Woods, an organization that was founded to lobby against a proposal by ISIAJ to build high-rise condos in the low-density neighbourhood, said he condemns such activities.
“Whatever happens [in Israel] – my whole family lives in Israel – I don’t bring it outside. I moved here for the peace and quiet. Leave the buffer of the oceans between us,” Koubi said.
He added that the Jaffari Centre doesn’t serve Palestinians. Most members are East African Shia Muslims. But he speculated that some of their pro-Palestinian posts on its Facebook page might have incited the vandalism.
York Regional Police spokesperson Const. Andy Pattenden released a statement that said officers called to the scene also found symbols that had been spray-painted on a sign in front of the centre.
He said hate crime investigators have been canvassing the area, speaking with anyone who may have information about the incident and calling on witnesses or anyone who may have surveillance video of the area to come forward.
Shabbir Jaffer, the Jaffari Centre’s spokesperson, said the mosque has video cameras positioned in the immediate vicinity of the building.
“I cannot tell you if there was one in the area where they graffiti was scrawled. It was more away from the building, but I’m sure the police will take that into account,” he said.
Jaffer said he and his community are “shocked and hurt” by the crime.
“We do have a feel that this is completely unrepresentative of our community, and indeed the multicultural society, which we live in. We don’t believe this represents the sentiments of the vast majority of our neighbours or Canadians in general and we hope that everyone, including our neighbours, community leaders and political leaders will condemn it roundly.”
Howard English, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs’ senior vice-president for the Greater Toronto Area, said his organization “unequivocally condemns all acts of vandalism committed against any place of worship.”
“We recognize that events in the Middle East have led to raw emotions, but these strong emotions should never lead to hateful graffiti or other acts of vandalism targeting any place of worship, any ethnic group or any faith,” English said.
“We know that York Regional Police are taking this really seriously. We’ve talked to them and know that they are launching a full investigation.”
