Prominent politicians have denounced whoever left a pig's head outside a mosque in Quebec City.

Premier Philippe Couillard is calling the weekend incident "despicable" and says people should be entitled to have their religion respected in peace and harmony.

Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume is using the word 'moron' to describe the perpetrator.

Story continues below advertisement

Labeaume says the Muslim community in the city is peaceful and is a part of Quebec society.

The pig's head was wrapped in paper and was accompanied by a note that read "Bonne (sic) appetit." Practising Muslims do not eat pork.

Police are investigating the incident, which occurred in the middle of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.

The mosque is inside an Islamic cultural centre.