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Mosque fire in Peterborough was hate crime, say police

Mosque, located in a quiet residential area of Peterborough, was torched on the weekend after the attacks in Paris
killed 129 people.

NATHAN DENETTE / CP
By: Colin Perkel The Canadian
Press, Published on Mon Nov 16 2015
Kenzu Abdella, president of the Kawartha
Muslim Religious Association walks down the
stairs at the mosque Masjid Al-Salaam in
Peterborough. The mosque was broken into and
set on fire in an act of arson which caused
major damage inside.

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.A fire set deliberately at a mosque in Peterborough, Ont., in the aftermath
of the terrorist attacks in Paris is being investigated as a hate crime, police said Monday.
Murray Rodd, chief of police in Peterborough, told a news conference that any injury to one of the
citys ethnic communities is an injury to us all.
We are treating this as a hate crime, Rodd said. The mosque in question is named, quite
appropriately, the peace mosque, which fits into what is a very peaceful, very livable community.
Insp. Larry Charmley added that other police forces have offered to help solve the case.
The mosque, located in a quiet residential area of Peterborough, was torched on the weekend after the
attacks in Paris killed 129 people in a slew public gathering places, including a music hall and
restaurants.
Larry Forsey, of nearby Coboconk, went out of his way to stop by the now-closed Masjid Al-Salaam,
where he hugged Kenzu Abdella, the president of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association, and
handed him some cash for repairs to the mosque.
Two wrongs dont make a right, Forsey said afterward. Its sad. People are down and they need help.
Then lets help them. Thats what Canada is supposed to be all about.
Forsey was among a small stream of passersby who stopped at the mosque to express support or to
donate cash on Monday.
Crimestoppers says an anonymous donor has put up $10,000 towards a reward for the arrest and
conviction of those responsible for the mosque fire. A crowdfunding initiative has also raised more than
$90,000 for repairs.

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Investigators in Kitchener, Ont., meanwhile, are investigating weekend vandalism at a Hindu temple
there.

Dilip Dav, president of the Ram Dham Hindu Temple, said several windows at the rear entrance of the
temple were shattered late Sunday night. No one inside was hurt, but they were unable to see who did
the damage.
In Peterborough on Saturday, emergency services were alerted to smoke coming from the mosque.
Firefighters discovered a broken window and were able to douse the flames, which caused about
$80,000 in damage, mostly due to smoke.
Al-Salaam is the only mosque for about 1,000 Muslims who live in the area. About 50 families
regularly attend services, and as many as 300 go on Fridays.
Christian and Jewish leaders, as well as community groups, immediately offered to open their facilities
for prayers. Congregants will likely pray in a United Church on Friday, said Abdella.
Some faithful used the grass outside the mosque for noon prayers on Monday.
Shazim Khan, the mosques imam, expressed dismay at what had happened but called it a random act.
This is just an isolated incident, said Khan, who has lived in the area for the past eight years. I know
this community; the people are loving, caring.
Dave Garskey, who lives in a bungalow across the street, stopped by to offer the imam help if needed.
Some idiot probably did it, I dont know why, Garskey said after chatting with Khan. Any sane
person wouldnt do it.
Abdella said people had been really amazing in the wake of the mosque fire, but added that Muslims
in Canada worry they could be painted with a violent, extremist brush.
Some people may misunderstand whats happening in other parts of the world and try to link that with
Muslims here, Abdella said. That is really unfortunate because any time violence happens in any part
of the world, Canadian Muslims, like any other Canadians, are offended by it and they condemn it.
Political leaders issued statements condemning the mosque fire and expressing support for the
community.
Maryam Monsef, the minister of democratic institutions and the areas MP, said the incident didnt
reflect the warm and generous community, while Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett called the
assault on a place of worship a despicable act.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne called the arson disturbing.
In the shadow of Fridays violence, our open, peaceful, inclusive democracy is even more important to
the world, she said. It is our responsibility in our own lives and communities to guard against and to
resist the blame and generalizations that can lead to racism and hatred.