Muslim leaders from across Wyndham have condemned recent vandalism at the Virgin Mary Mosque in Hoppers Crossing, but thanked the wider community for their support.
Police are investigating the incident which is believed to have happened sometime after midnight on Friday 5 December.
Mosque’s committee president Hanif Shaikh said the congregation has been grateful for the community support.
“I have received several emails and messages from non-Muslims offering to help clean it up and condemn what happened … and politicians from all levels have shown their support,” Mr Shaikh said.
“I sensed that there are people as outraged as us because they know how important our institution is to the community.
“The thing is that we always quote the teaching of our beloved prophet about being calm, being neighbourly and understanding situations like this are mere tests.
“We can’t control every situation but we are working with the police, but apart from that we continue to send positive messages.
“We are reminding our congregation to share a similar message to neighbours and friends.“
He said the community is making sure not to overact and to focus on the positive messages received from other residents.
“We could dwell on it but that is just going to make things worse – all of us have been young and mischievous, and then realised maybe I shouldn’t have done that,“ Mr Shaikh said,
Imran Khan, the secretary at the nearby Melbourne Grand Mosque, condemned the incident.
“We stand here to strongly condemn the shocking and unacceptable act of Islamophobic graffiti that occurred at the Virgin Mary Mosque,” Mr Khan said.
“This attack is not just on a religious place – it is an attack on the values of peace, respect, and harmony that we, as a community, uphold and cherish.
“An attack on any religious place is an attack on all of us. Our Muslim and non-Muslim community members stand united against hatred, racism, and attempts to divide us.
“Wyndham has always been a place of diversity and togetherness, and acts like this will never break that unity.”
