The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bacon attack on mosque shocks Fife community
Kirk offers unstinting support to town’s Muslims
A hate crime against Dunfermline Mosque has been condemned.
In an act described as a “deliberate symbol of Central hatred”, someone left its doorway strewn with bacon. Police confirmed they are investigating the crime in the early hours of last Sunday.
A spokesman for the mosque pledged not to be cowed. He said it made everyone determined to work harder to reach out to the community and tackle hatred.
The attack was condemned by MSP ShirleyAnne Somerville, who said: “This sort of behaviour has no place in our society.”
And Rev Dr Iain Greenshields said the Church of Scotland abhorred the attack in a “very tolerant” Dunfermline and offered “unstinting support to our Muslim neighbours”.
Dunfermline Central Mosque has been attacked in a vile act which has shocked the local community.
Someone left the door of the Woodmill Road mosque covered in bacon in an act described as a “deliberate symbol of hatred” chosen as Muslims do not eat pork.
Ironically, it happened just hours after members of the congregation took part in a race against racism event in the town.
The incident has left worshippers shocked and upset, and fearful of an escalation in violence.
A spokesman said the vast majority of the people of Dunfermline had shown nothing but love and support in response to positive work done by volunteers to show “we are all Scots”.
“We had ourselves felt that we did not face the same issues and hatred as other parts of the UK suffer from, and it has left us all shocked,” he said.
He added that the community recognised this hatred was driven via social media and pledged to continue to work with local and national government in how to tackle the issue.
In a statement, the mosque said: “It’s a shame that a minority within society want to only promote hatred and fear, who refuse to engage and get to know us, but we do recognise it is just a minority of people with this hatred of others.”
The Muslim community is being asked to be vigilant with Ramadan approaching.
“Our message to the haters is we are not intimidated, we shall not be bullied and this only motivates us to do more and reach out to our neighbours in Dunfermline.
“Ignorance and hate will never divide us.”
The spokesman, who has worked for 20 years in racial equality and diversity, added: “We are not going to bow down and be scared.”
Support has come from the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Dunfermline.
Its clerk, the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, said: “We are very disappointed to hear this news.
“We abhor the actions of this minority in Dunfermline, which is a very tolerant society, and offer our unstinting support to our Muslim neighbours.
Over the last few years the Kirk had worked alongside its Muslim neighbours, he added, to foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
Leading members of the mosque had spoken to Presbytery, and in turn they had attended open days at the mosque.
Now the Presbytery will be writing to all schools in the area suggesting that as part of their assemblies they challenge any hate campaigns on social media.
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed they were investigating a report of hate crime which took place at Dunfermline Central Mosque at around 2am on Sunday April 29.
They added inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information which can help trace those responsible is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 0717 of April 29.
Alternatively a report can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“We do recognise it is just a minority of people with this hatred of others