Jewish, Muslim residents call for end to tit-for-tat vandalism in Vaughan

YorkRegion.com
July 24, 2014
Jeremy Grimaldi

Jewish and Muslim residents in Vaughan are calling for an end to the tit-for-tat vandalism that has scarred the community this  week.

Vandals struck at the Muslim community Sunday, desecrating the Jaffari Community Centre with white graffiti and the words “Arab Go Home” and a Star of David.

The Jaffari Community Centre is an affiliate centre of the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat of Toronto.

Following the incident, there was universal rejection of the behaviour by residents and community leaders.

That condemnation was echoed in more forceful terms yesterday after a bus shelter at Atkinson Avenue and Spring Gate Boulevard, only five kilometres from Jaffari Village, was scrawled with “F**k Israel” and a swastika.

Rom Koubi, chairperson of the Thornhill Woods Ratepayers Association, said he grew up in Israel and served in the military, adding he came to Canada to escape the violence.

“I came here so that my kids wouldn’t have to serve, wouldn’t have to fight or endure this,” he said.

His comments come as the death toll in Gaza reached 655 yesterday afternoon, with 4,220 injuries. Deaths on the Israeli side rose to 32.

As The Citizen was going to press, there was talk of a humanitarian ceasefire as a number of airlines cancelled flights in and out of Tel-Aviv.

Details emerged about the number of children fatalities, with CBS News maintaining one child is killed every hour in Gaza.

Koubi added he fears Saturday’s pro-Palestinian event outside Queen’s Park could get out of hand and end up similar to events in Paris and Calgary, where Jewish properties were burned and molotov cocktails were thrown.

The Jewish Defense League has said it plans to confront protesters.

Koubi said when he posted the details of Wednesday’s incident on his Facebook page, he had to eventually remove the stream of comments because he said it became far too heated and inappropriate.

His posting about the graffiti outside Jaffari Village remains up.

Residents were also upset by the incident.

Lorin Karp, who lives nearby, said bringing the emotions associated with this conflict to North America makes no sense and is very dangerous.

“I know people over here that don’t converse anymore because of this conflict;  it has happened to a friend of mine,” she said, adding one has to be careful when dealing with such sensitive material.

Muslims also responded, denouncing the behaviour.

“We condemn this act and all other forms and acts of racism and hate,” said Shabbir Jaffer, spokesperson for the Jaffari Community Centre. “We condemn the anti-Semitic graffiti found at that bus stop.”

Local politicians also weighed in on the issue, calling for an end to such behaviour.

“This is yet another act of vandalism and racism that is completely unacceptable and is not consistent with our community’s core values. It will not be tolerated in our community,” Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said.

Meanwhile, Thornhill Conservative MPP Gila Martow condemned the racist action.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7241, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.