Quebec mosques boost security amid rising vandalism and anti-Muslim harassment

Spokespersons for Quebec’s Muslim institutions say they have observed an increase in vandalism and anti-Muslim rhetoric over the last eighteen months, though the cause remains unclear. Recent attacks include broken windows at the Mauricie Islamic Cultural Centre in Trois-Rivières and a mock blood-stained hand placed at the Verdun Islamic Centre, prompting a police hate-crime investigation. In response, the Quebec City mosque released its first public warning, urging congregants to follow stricter security protocols such as keeping doors locked and reporting suspicious behavior.

Two young adults were detained after damaging the Centre Culturel Al-Rahma Portneuf in Donnacona, leading the centre to install surveillance cameras. Community representatives emphasize the need for vigilance while preserving the role of these spaces as places of worship and community cohesion.