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OTTAWA - A sign marking the future site of a mosque in Ottawa's Barrhaven area was spray-painted with racist graffiti sometime overnight Thursday.
"I don't know what to think. I guess some people don't want us here," said Wais Sidiqi, an administrative officer with the South Nepean Muslim Community.
Someone wrote "F--- Muslims," and "Ragheads Go" with what appears to be a poorly drawn swastika, which makes it read more like "Ragheads Golf."
Sidiqi said the group paid $1.2 million for 1.3 hectares of land at 3020 Woodroffe Ave.
They're trying to raise another $1.9 million for the second phase of their plan, which includes beginning construction in 2011.
Sidiqi said he called police to report the vandalism Friday morning but was told several people had already reported it.
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The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the act Friday.
"Such acts are offensive, hurtful and intimidating to local citizens," said executive director Ihsaan Gardee.
Gardee said there have been several similar cases reported to CAIR-CAN in the past four months.
"Mosques in Hamilton, Calgary, and Waterloo were vandalized and hate messages were spray-painted outside a mosque in Pickering earlier this week," said Gardee.
The organization is calling on the Ottawa police to conduct a swift investigation and bring those responsible to justice.
Police are investigating.