N.B. RCMP investigating Islamophobic message at Moncton mosque

Moncton police are investigating a hateful message spray painted on a downtown Moncton mosque.

Police are investigating a hateful message spray painted on the wall of a mosque in downtown Moncton, N.B.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Hans Ouellette said police responded to a complaint regarding graffiti on a building on High Street at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

“The RCMP takes this incident very seriously, and a thorough investigation is underway,” said Ouellette in an email.

The messages “Go Home Muslims” and “Go Home” were spray painted on the back of the building.

Ouellette wouldn’t comment on what was written but did say the message “appears to be Islamophobic in nature.”

Ali Ettarnichi, president of the Moncton Muslim Association, said a member of their community noticed the graffiti around 5 a.m. Thursday.

“We were saddened and disappointed with this action,” said Ettarnichi. “This is something that is concerning and we would like the authorities to take it seriously and deal with it so people feel safe and secure.”

Ettarnichi said it has happened twice in less than a year.

Mahmoud Abdelsalam, a member of the Moncton Muslim Association, said Muslims are part of the community in the Greater Moncton area.

“We are serving the community, we feel like we are part of the community. We need the community to understand being Muslim does not mean that we are not part of this community or not part of the Canadian population,” said Abdelsalam. “We need to work together, we need to collaborate together. We don’t want to feel that there is any hate or any phobia from us.”

Abdelsalam also said he thinks the police should take the incident seriously.

Ouellette said the RCMP takes all reports of hate‑motivated incidents and crimes that target any individuals or members of a community very seriously.

“Our priority is to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected, and we will continue to respond decisively to any form of hate‑motivated behaviour,” said Ouellette.

“Hate has no place in our communities. We ask that anyone with information that could assist our investigation contact police.”

Ettarnichi said they will paint over the messages when the police investigation has been completed.

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