A mosque in midtown Toronto has increased security for Ramadan after it recently received two phone calls threatening violence against it and its staff.
The Toronto Islamic Centre and Community Services, on Yonge Street north of Bloor Street, has hired a second security guard for the month of Ramadan following the “deeply disturbing” phone calls last Wednesday, according to its general manager Shaffni Nalir.
Nalir said the mosque is also continuing its usual protocols to keep worshippers safe.
“We have groups of volunteers that don’t pray the communal prayer and they watch the door instead. And after we’re done praying the communal prayer, we switch spots just because of the sake of safety,” Nalir told CBC Toronto.
But the threats have left people on edge, with Nalir saying many families have asked him “what is the plan” to keep worshippers safe.
On Tuesday, however, the mosque was to receive some outside support.
Rabbi Michael Dolgin, senior rabbi at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto, was scheduled to visit the mosque on Tuesday night in an act of solidarity.
“We want them to know that hatred against any anyone, hatred that would prevent Muslims from coming and marking the beginning of Ramadan, targets all of us and that we stand with them,” Dolgin said before the visit.
Rabbi Michael Dolgin, senior rabbi at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto, says: ‘We want them to know that hatred against any anyone, hatred that would prevent Muslims from coming and marking the beginning of Ramadan, targets all of us and that we stand with them.’ (CBC)
Dolgin said interfaith connections are very important to ensure no community feels alone.
“It enriches us in our congregation and enriches everyone when we have the opportunity to develop a real relationship,” Dolgin said.
Police investigating phone calls
Toronto police have said they are investigating the phone calls. According to the centre, the calls were received Feb. 11 at 7:20 p.m. and 8:41 p.m.
The first call was about a minute, while the second lasted 14 minutes. The centre received the second call while a staff person was calling 911.
In an email on Tuesday night, police declined to say whether the threatening phone calls are being investigated as hate crimes.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), an advocacy organization, posted audio of one of the calls on its Instagram page.
During the call, a person is heard speaking and he makes reference to Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslims praying at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019.
The caller, who says he is not Canadian, tells the person to search for Tarrant’s name.
“Another Christchurch is going to happen to you,” the caller says.
‘Ramadan spirit is still alive,’ general manager says
Despite the threats, Nalir said there is a celebratory spirit at the mosque. Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar.
“The Ramadan spirit is still alive and booming and thriving,” Nalir said.
Steven Zhou, spokesperson for the NCCM, said on Tuesday it’s encouraging to see support from other communities and the council is calling for elected officials to do more to protect worshippers from all faiths.
“We live in a kind of a new, more disturbing reality for so many communities. In the short to medium term at least, give us better tools, better options to make it easier for us to protect ourselves and our own communities,” Zhou said.
This year, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to end on March 19. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan.