Police Scotland has launched a full investigation after xenophobic graffiti was discovered on the exterior walls of Edinburgh Central Mosque in the early hours of Friday night.
Staff arriving at the mosque on Saturday morning found racist messages spray-painted across multiple walls, including the phrases “get out of Scotland” and “leave Scot” (sic). Officers are treating the incident as a hate crime, believed to have occurred at approximately 9:30pm on Friday, 16 January 2026.
The mosque immediately reported the vandalism, cooperated with police enquiries, and issued a statement describing the attack as “hate graffiti” that “does not reflect the Edinburgh we know and love.”
Community Solidarity — But Growing Concern
Leaders at Edinburgh Central Mosque thanked local residents and the wider community for an outpouring of solidarity and support. Muslim civil rights organisations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the United States, also expressed condemnation and concern.
CAIR stated:
“Attacks on mosques and other religious institutions are an attack on the basic principles of religious freedom, safety and human dignity.”
While the response from the public has been overwhelmingly supportive, this incident follows a similar mosque graffiti attack in Glasgow last year, and marks the first hate-related incident at Edinburgh Central Mosque since a projectile attack in 2016.
The pattern is clear: mosques remain visible, symbolic targets for hate-motivated vandalism and intimidation.
How Mosque Security Helps
At MosqueSecurity.com, we specialise in protecting places of worship from exactly these types of incidents.
We provide:
- Mosque Security Assessment Service
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Our goal is simple:
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Final Thoughts
Hate crimes against mosques are not just attacks on buildings — they are attacks on community safety, dignity, and religious freedom.
While police investigations are essential, prevention must start at the premises level.
If your mosque does not currently have external CCTV coverage, lighting, and monitoring in place, now is the time to act.
Get a Free Mosque Security Assessment
If you manage or represent a mosque and want guidance on improving your security posture:
Visit: www.mosquesecurity.com
Together, we can make mosques safer, more resilient, and less vulnerable to hate-driven attacks.