Kitchener Ram Dham Hindu temple gets help from GTA Muslims
A group of Greater Toronto Area Muslims is raising $10,000 to help repair Kitchener's Ram Dham Hindu temple after it was vandalized on Sunday.
The online fundraiser was inspired by a highly successful campaign to raise money for Peterborough's only mosque after it was set ablaze over the weekend, says Arshia Lakhani.
"As Muslims we are quickly realizing that these hate crimes are not just affecting our community; it is not just our mosques being burned, or our people being attacked. This extends to all visible minorities who are victims of hatred," the group wrote on its gofundme page.
"This is a time to show that love and solidarity between communities speaks louder than hatred. Please show your support."
While Waterloo Regional Police investigators have not designated the vandalism at the temple as a hate crime, they are keeping an open mind to the possibility.
The temple was vandalized on Sunday night when someone sent five stones crashing through two of the building's windows.
At the time, the congregation's head preacher was attending a vigil at Kitchener city hall for the 129 people who died in the Paris attacks.