Vandals defaced a sign with hate graffiti on site of a future mosque in Ottawa sometimes between Thursday night and Friday Morning (April 30, 2010). The graffiti addresses “ragheads” and uses profanity, including “f*** Muslims.” One splash of paint resembles a swastika.

South Nepean Muslim Community (SMNC) has stated in its email that “Some one had written over with ugly and defamatory words on SNMC sign Board at 3020 Woodroffe Ave. (Ottawa). By this afternoon, city of Ottawa has cleaned the sign.

SNMC received support letter from Church Leaders and general public by phone call and email. SNMC gave few interviews to local news papers, Radio and Television.

SNMC has excellent relationships with all the community organizations, city of Ottawa, local church Leaders and Synagogue and also all the local elected representatives.”

Dr. Emdad Khan, the director and honorary president of the South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC), called the vandalism directed at the Muslim community “a very, very isolated incident.”SNMC considers this is an isolated event. All Ottawa residents, Muslims and non-Muslims, in general highly appreciate SNMC activities and their presence in Barrhaven (Ottawa).

SNMC thanks every one, general public Muslims and non-Muslims , local news papers, Radio and Television for the support.

I think that only way to stop such offensive and intimidating acts of vandalism is the awareness about the Muslims and Muslim community through the dialogue and media campaigns. Such acts of hate must be condemned no matter which community is being targeted.