Invitation to mosque for graffiti vandal
“It makes us a bit sad.” “This is the first time it has happened in a long time.”
It is alleged Mr Wiltshire spray painted the graffiti on December 22.
Cairns Magistrates Court last week heard Mr Wiltshire did not know the historical context of the symbols – associated with hate crimes and white supremacists – but chose them because he knew Muslims frequented the mosque.
Imam Jappie would welcome Mr Wiltshire.
“I would invite him into the mosque and have a chat,” he said. “I’d like to know what he thinks about Islam.”
The Islamic Society has held open days in previous years to educate the public about the mosque.
“People don’t really know about Islam,” Imam Jappie said. “They are surprised when they come in.”
He said stereotypes often coloured how people perceived the mosque.
“One boy came in and he said “I’m scared’,” Imam Jappie said. “I said ‘why?’
“He was terrified – I said ‘calm down, there’s nothing going on here.”
Wiltshire is charged with wilful damage using graffiti.
He has not entered a plea and has been bailed to reappear in court on January 21.
In 2013, vandals scrawled graffiti across the mosque’s front gate.
The culprits called for worshippers to “integrate’’ or return to their “homelands’’.
The racial attack coincided with the 81st birthday of the late Imam Abdul Aziz.
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