PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS1130) – BC’s Integrated Hate Crimes Unit has been called in after someone left several large piles of bacon outside a Mosque and Islamic Centre in Port Coquitlam last month.

Police say it’s the second time someone has left pork at the building on Kingsway and Jane Street over the last 18 months.

Pork is a symbol of impurity in Islam and Dr. Amyn Sajoo with the Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Societies and Cultures says this incident is very disrespectful.

“The political meaning of it would be “you are unwelcomed here.”  This would be the equivalent in religious terms of desecrating a Jewish grave and in secular terms it would be like burning a Canadian flag in the middle of the House of Commons.”

The Islamic Society of British Columbia says the action was intended to offend, but the organization would welcome to opportunity to speak to those responsible to have them learn about Muslim beliefs.

RCMP are not sure if the two incidents are linked.  “We are going to be looking at every single avenue of the investigation including whether this crime is being motivated by hatred,” says Cpl. Jamie Chung.