Ugly backlash after non-Muslim staged campus hijab day

An effort to promote interfaith harmony at McMaster University turned ugly this week when anti-Islamic profanity was spray-painted on the office door of a professor who had staged a Hijab Day on campus.

Hamilton police's hate crimes unit is investigating.

"We understand how this resonates with our community," Sandra Wilson, the force's race and ethnic relations director, told the Star.

Copies of Danish newspaper cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that sparked violent demonstrations last year were also taped to the door of French professor Muriel Walker, who is not Muslim.

The graffiti, scrawled across the door and the cartoons, had scurrilous references to Osama bin Laden and "raghead lover." Campus security removed the cartoons and had the door cleaned.

Walker could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Kareem Mirza of the McMaster Muslims Students' Association called the incident a "hate crime" that was worsened because it occurred in a place of higher learning against an advocate of "human liberties and social justice." [Link]