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Imam Hamid Slimi: Mosque raises money to repair Catholic church allegedly damaged by schizophrenic Muslim Imam Hamid Slimi: Mosque raises money to repair Catholic church allegedly damaged by schizophrenic Muslim
(about 20 hours later)
When a Muslim leader heard that a member of his own community had vandalised a nearby church, he realised he had to act. Not just with words but with deeds.When a Muslim leader heard that a member of his own community had vandalised a nearby church, he realised he had to act. Not just with words but with deeds.
So Hamid Slimi, imam of the Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga, Canada, paid a visit to the nearby St Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church where he was shocked to see the damage. Pages had been torn from the Bible, an alter had been damaged and a cross had been thrown to the floor. So Hamid Slimi, imam of the Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga, Canada, paid a visit to the St Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church where he was shocked to see the damage. Pages had been torn from the Bible, an alter had been damaged and a cross had been thrown to the floor.
Mr Slimi then return to his mosque and organised its members to raise money to help repair the vandalism, carried out in May. In one day they managed to raise around $5,000. Mr Slimi then returned to his mosque and organised its members to raise money to help repair the vandalism, carried out in May. In one day they managed to raise around $5,000.
ThankU Dr Hamid Slimi for your #leadership & #guidance in the #muslim community of #Mississauga #cdnpoli @skcentre http://t.co/DHnO5s32dgThankU Dr Hamid Slimi for your #leadership & #guidance in the #muslim community of #Mississauga #cdnpoli @skcentre http://t.co/DHnO5s32dg
“It was a very bad scene,” Mr Slimi told The Star. “The guy who did it ripped pages out of the Bible. He broke the altar. He threw the cross. When I saw this, I thought it was pure injustice. It was just wrong.”“It was a very bad scene,” Mr Slimi told The Star. “The guy who did it ripped pages out of the Bible. He broke the altar. He threw the cross. When I saw this, I thought it was pure injustice. It was just wrong.”
The newspaper said that police Iqbal Hessan, 22, in connection with the damage and and charged him with breaking and entering. During the bail hearing, Mr Hessan said he was “upset with the Christian religion.” His father reportedly told the court his son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, which he believed had caused his anger and imbalance. The newspaper said that police Iqbal Hessan, 22, in connection with the damage and and charged him with breaking and entering. During the bail hearing, Mr Hessan said he was “upset with the Christian religion”. His father reportedly told the court that his son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, which he believed had caused his anger and imbalance.
Police said that reviewing the young man’s mental health history, police decided they were “not proceeding with a hate crime”. Police said that reviewing the young man’s mental health history, and had decided they were “not proceeding with a hate crime” charge.
Nice to see communities helping each other out...way @HamidSlimi ...way to go! http://t.co/i2u9qx5oqkNice to see communities helping each other out...way @HamidSlimi ...way to go! http://t.co/i2u9qx5oqk
Mr Slimi’s mosque did not immediately respond to phone calls. However, Father Camillo Lando, of St Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, told The Independent that he had informed his congregation this Sunday of the gift from mosque members. Mr Slimi’s mosque did not immediately respond to phone calls. However, Father Camillo Lando, of St Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, told The Independent that he had informed his congregation this Sunday of the gift from the mosque's members.
“It was very nice,” he said. “I told people on Sunday. We have said there should be no revenge.”“It was very nice,” he said. “I told people on Sunday. We have said there should be no revenge.”