A Muslim community gathering held at the Trois-Rivières racetrack on Wednesday morning to mark Eid al-Adha has triggered a wave of hateful and threatening online comments, prompting condemnation from city officials and police attention. The event, organized at a private venue rather than in a public street, was legal and took place without incident, according to authorities.
Dozens of Muslims gathered at dawn at the Trois-Rivières hippodrome after renting the site for the religious celebration, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar. While the prayer itself was lawful and peaceful, reactions on social media quickly became inflammatory. Under a Facebook post shared by a radio host that featured a poster for the event, several users posted violent remarks, including references to arson and a mass killing at the Quebec City mosque.
Three-Rivières Mayor Jean-François Aubin responded by saying that hateful language, threats, and calls to intimidation have no place in society, online or elsewhere. He said the city is built on peaceful coexistence and respect for differences, and that lawful events should be allowed to take place without citizens being targeted by abusive messages.
The Trois-Rivières police service said it was aware of the online comments and would take them into account, though no formal complaint had been filed at the time. Police also said the event itself went smoothly. According to Radio-Canada, around 200 worshippers attended the prayer gathering.
The organizer, identified only as Mehdi in a radio interview, said he was shocked by the intensity of the reaction on social media. He said that after nearly 15 years in Trois-Rivières, he had never seen so much hatred. The episode has drawn attention to the persistence of anti-Muslim hostility online, even when religious gatherings are held legally and peacefully in private venues.
