Muslim group: Multifaith centre at the University of Victoria target of hate incident

On Wednesday, feces were left at several locations in the center. A nationwide Muslim group called the incident an act of hatred against Muslims.

Oak Bay Police said one or more unknown persons left feces or stool at the centre between 6 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The feces were scattered in several parts of the building, including the meditation room and a bathroom, police said in a statement on Friday.

Shawn Ullah, British Columbia representative of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said his organization views the incident as an act of hatred because feces were found in a wudhu footbath used by Muslims before communal prayers.

Incidents like this have “profound impacts on Muslim students and staff at UVic and cause a great deal of fear and suffering,” he said. “No person should ever feel intimidated or unsafe at their educational institution, so it is very concerning and disappointing that something like this happens.”

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UVic said it is increasing security on campus, particularly around Friday prayers, and is in discussions with the National Council of Canadian Muslims to prevent similar incidents in the future, Ullah said.

On July 5, Muslim Friday prayers at the University of Victoria’s Multifaith Centre were cancelled by campus security after two notes containing anti-Islamic, anti-Iranian and anti-Palestinian messages were discovered on the building’s doors that morning.

According to Oak Bay police, the notes were reviewed by a hate crimes investigator and forwarded to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Hate Crimes Unit for further analysis.

There is no clear indication as to who was the target in the latest incident, police said.

In a statement posted on UVic’s website on Thursday, university president Kevin Hall condemned the act and said the university was working with police to identify those responsible.

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Hall said he met with members of the Muslim community “to have discussions about creating a campus free of anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian and anti-Iranian hatred.”

“We are deeply grateful for everyone’s willingness to have these challenging discussions with us,” he said.

Nicole Greengoe, UVic’s executive director of wellbeing, recreation and sport, said the university has been working with members of UVic’s Muslim community as well as provincial and national Muslim associations on a safety plan so that events at the centre can continue.

“Campus Security will continue to work with our police partners, and Multifaith now has enhanced security measures in place to ensure that members of all faiths can continue to come to the center to worship and participate in activities and programs,” she said in a statement to the Times Colonist.

Oak Bay Deputy Police Chief Kris Rice said police are determined to find those responsible for the vandalism.

“These incidents are deeply disturbing and violate the values ​​of respect and inclusivity that our community upholds,” he said in a statement.

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Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch said he could not comment on the details of the incident due to the police investigation, but “I think we need to be very clear that this is totally unacceptable.”

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact Oak Bay Police at 250-592-2424.

UVic spokeswoman Kirsten Lauvaas said the Multifaith Centre will remain open and Muslim prayers will take place as planned on Friday.

More than 100 people regularly attend Friday prayers at the center, including university students, staff, teachers and students from surrounding secondary schools during school hours.

Source: timescolonist.com