A mosque in Dorval has been vandalized for the third time in 11 months.
The Dorval Mosque is now tarnished with graffiti that reads: "Koran 8, 12".
"This thing should not happen in a country called Canada," said Karim Chadal, a member of the Muslim community with strong ties to the mosque.
There is a surveillance camera on the wall that was spray painted, but officials at the mosque say it's not helpful in this case because the images in the video aren't clear.
The incident happened after dark, and the lens of the camera was covered with spider webs.
A misinterpretation of Islam?
The graffiti sprayed on the wall of the mosque refers to verses in the Koran that include the following excerpt:
"I will instill terror into the hearts of Unbelievers: Smite ye above their necks. And smite all their finger-tips off them."
Chadal declined to give CTV Montreal his interpretation of the reading. He said is not knowledgeable enough to explain it, and preferred to leave the task up to others.
The president of the mosque, Mehmet Deger, said the vandals are simply attempting to spread stereotypes about Islam.
"They are trying to give a violent message of Islam to the public," said Deger.
He added that the words were written nearly 1,500 years ago, and can be easily taken out of their historical context.
Offering his own interpretation of the verse, Deger said: "It is instruction to the armed forces how to act in a war."
On Friday, the mosque will be visited by Jason Kenney, federal Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Deger said the graffiti will remain on the wall of the mosques until then, because he wants Kenney to see it first hand.
