Hate graffiti daubed on building earmarked for mosque

A GRADE-II listed building that was set to become a county's first mosque has been defaced with religious symbols and anti-Muslim graffiti in an act that one resident described as "a dark stain on us all".

- LOIS MCCARTHY

Police are treating the incident as a hate crime.

Spray-painted Christian crosses and the words “No Masjid” were discovered on the former Abergavenny library just weeks after the council's Labour-led cabinet agreed to grant a 30-year lease to Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association (MMCA).

The group, a not-for-profit organisation, intends to convert the building into the county's first mosque and community centre, serving the needs of Monmouthshire’s growing Muslim population.

The incident has been widely condemned by local residents and faith leaders as a shocking display of religious intolerance in a town known for its history of peaceful dissent and diversity.

The building, located in the town centre, has been out of use as a library since 2015 after services were moved to Abergavenny Town Hall.

Since then it has housed several council-run services including adult education and most recently the pupil referral unit (PRU) for children unable to attend mainstream education.

The PRU has now relocated to new premises at Old Hereford Road leaving the building vacant once again.

In May the council awarded the lease to MMCA, citing the association’s clear demonstration of local need. Abergavenny has the highest number of Muslims in Monmouthshire, which currently has no mosques.

In contrast Cardiff has 24 mosques while Newport has eight and Swansea seven.