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Local doctor targeted by vandals

Jan 27, 2015 | 6:24 AM

A Prince Albert doctor’s clinic was vandalized with racist graffiti this week.

Dr. Syed Ali was notified by his secretary on Monday morning that someone had written some words in black ink on the door to his office.

The message read “one love……..who do you serve?”

“What I take it as [is] whether are you with us or with them,” said Ali, who is Muslim.

By them, Ali is referring to the radical extremist network ISIL. 

Earlier this month, Ali was asked to comment by paNOW about the uprising in France, and what he thought of the portrayal of the Prophet Mohammad in the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. 

“If someone wants to have a chat about the wording on paNOW I am open and free to talk about that really. I know what I said and I can shed some light on both perspectives,” said Ali.

Ali said he is not bothered personally by the graffiti on his office door, it’s his staff and patients that he is more concerned about.

“About 15 to 20 people come in everyday, so it’s kind of disturbing for the staff,” he said.

Ali now plans to put up an extra security camera at his office, and if the graffiti continues he will be talking to his lawyer.

In the meantime, he is not afraid to answer the inquisitive vandals.

“I just want him or her to know that I choose love, respect, and freedom of speech, Canada over extremism, radicalism, and killing of innocent civilians, and that is the true teaching of religion I believe in, and it does not matter what others believe,” Ali said in a written statement provided to paNOW.

Ali said if anyone has any questions he can be reached via email at asif15905@gmail.com.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell