In defiance of a recent incident of what appeared to be acts of hate and Islamophobia, a Muslim community in York Region is responding with love and compassion.

Four men are accused of urinating on the Islamic Society of Markham mosque at 2900 Denison St. on Jan. 2. Police alleged they also threw various objects at the mosque, breaking a window in the process.

Const. Laura Nicolle told the Star the suspects were identified and arrested after police sent out a news release last week asking the public for help.

They were charged with one count each of mischief relating to a religious property.

“At least one of them is a youth and it also looks like to protect the identity of the youth, we may not be able to release names of the others,” she said, noting the investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

The mosque leaders have been working with police on this issue and have vowed to continue welcoming everyone with love and open arms.

“We have no interest in punitive punishment being meted out to the attackers. We have an interest in the attackers finding their way back to a better path,” they wrote in a news release this week.

When contacted by the Star, they referred all questions to the National Council for Canadian Muslims, which speaks on behalf of Muslim communities in Canada on matters of Islamophobia.

Over the next few weeks, the Islamic Society of Markham will open its doors to invite friends and neighbours in the area to come and share a meal with its congregants.

Mustafa Farooq, executive director of the national council, said it’s unfortunate that such acts of hate are still happening despite the country’s efforts at promoting diversity and inclusion.

“Folks in faith-based communities view churches and synagogues and temples and mosques as their homes, and when your home is vandalized and is urinated on, it’s saddening and concerning,” he said.

Farooq said he was inspired by the response from the affected community, which immediately cooperated with police and expressed a desire for rehabilitation and reintegration of the people who allegedly committed the acts of vandalism.

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In addition to ensuring that people are safe, this is about building a real community and advance the mantra that it takes a village to build or rebuild an individual, he said.

“That’s the spirit with which the mosque is looking at this issue, thinking about how do we go from this sad and tragic moment to thinking about how do we show who we are as a people of love and hope,” he said.

“We hope for a solution that involves rehabilitation and a path forward in rebuilding the community.”

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