Czech Republic: Mosque defaced with bones and pork

Late last night or early this morning someone threw a pile of pork bones in front of the entrance to a mosque in Brno. The door handle was smeared with lard and a piece of pork was hung from it.

Muníb Hasan says the Muslim community has filed a criminal report against an unidentified perpetrator. Islam strictly forbids the consumption of pork, which Muslims consider unclean.

"We found the bones and meat this morning when we came to the mosque. We have a security camera which has partially recorded the perpetrator. We gave the footage to the police," Hasan said.

In his view this is a clear example of extremist hatred against those who believe in Islam. The community left the entrance as it was all morning, posting signs reading "Use the side entrance" and "This is an example of tolerance" over the defacement.

The door and entryway were cleaned up after noon. Police will now be investigating further details of the matter; they say it is not yet possible to tell whether the incident is one of disseminating xenophobia or rioting.

The mosque is located on Vídeňská Street in Brno. It was opened as the first house of worship of its kind in the Czech Republic more than 10 years ago. 

The facility has been the target of several attacks in the past. Unidentified perpetrators have broken the glass in its doors and windows and spray-painted graffiti on it.