Boufeldja Benabdallah has observed a surge in vandalism and anti-Muslim sentiments targeting mosques and cultural centers across Quebec over the past 18 months, but he is puzzled by the reasons behind it. Despite this, as the spokesperson and co-founder of Quebec City’s Islamic Cultural Centre, he emphasizes that their community is responding with heightened vigilance.
Recently, the Mauricie Islamic Cultural Centre faced vandalism, with its windows smashed following a wave of online threats and harassment directed at the Muslim community in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Subsequently, Montreal police initiated an investigation into a hate crime outside the Verdun Islamic Centre, where an artificial imitation of a severed, bloodied human hand was left at the entrance.
In a separate incident, two young adults, one man, and one woman were apprehended for vandalizing the Centre Culturel Al-Rahma Portneuf, an Islamic center, and prayer room in Donnacona, Quebec. Benabdallah highlighted a prevailing sense of unease among Muslims in Quebec City and stressed the importance of alertness and community safety measures.
Reflecting on the tragic history of his mosque, where a past attack resulted in casualties, Benabdallah emphasized the necessity of proactive security measures to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. Evan Balgord, Executive Director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, acknowledged the worsening trend of hate towards religious communities over the past decade, especially among Muslims in Quebec.
Benabdallah expressed concerns not only about physical vandalism but also about online harassment within the community, prompting some individuals to delete their social media accounts due to the overwhelming negativity. In Donnacona, Abdelouaheb ben Abdallah, treasurer of the Islamic cultural center, noted the challenges of anti-Islam rhetoric and emphasized the importance of fostering positive relationships with neighbors.
Following recent acts of vandalism, increased security measures, including the installation of cameras, have been implemented at the cultural center in Donnacona. Despite facing opposition, ben Abdallah remains committed to coexisting peacefully with dissenting voices and preserving the sanctity of cultural spaces for prayer and community gatherings. The aim is to maintain a sense of joy and belonging within Quebec, a city they cherish as residents.
