Hong Kong Unison condemns Hong Kong Police targeting the Kowloon Mosque and people with water cannon

At around 4:30pm today, Hong Kong Police sprayed the Kowloon Mosque and the people standing guard outside of the Mosque with water cannon filled with blue dye. Mr. Mohan Chugani, Former Chair of India Association, Mr. Jeremy Tam, Legislative Council Member, Ms. Phyllis Cheung, Executive Director of Hong Kong Unison and a Hong Kong Pakistani member of Unison, as well as many who were at the scene safeguarding the Mosque were sprayed by the cannon and got injured. The Mosque was dyed blue by the water cannon (so-called Specialised Crowd Management Vehicle by the police). According to media footage, there were no protestors gathering around the Kowloon Mosque at that time, and there were no "rioters" on the scene as claimed by the statement released by the Police. Hong Kong Unison is outraged by the Police's unjustifiable and rash action, and demands the Police to explain their actions, as well as immediately apologize to all victims and the Mosque.

Our Executive Director describes that at the time of the incident there were only a dozen of well-meaning people standing outside the Mosque to protect it from possible vandalism and attack. There was no provocation or attack against any members of the police. Just before the incident, Ms. Cheung was conveying a message to the Mosque reminding the worshipers inside to immediately close the front doors and to remove children from the scene. Soon after, the police water cannon approached the site, stopped abruptly and blasted Ms. Cheung and others present with water cannon filled with stinging dye. They were unable to open their eyes and their skin stung painfully as a result. Some were unwell and hospitalized.

The Police deployed water cannon unprovoked and without warning causing injuries to innocent people. The Police dirtying facilities of the Mosque with blue dye without cause is an act of insult against religious grounds and a disturbance of religious freedom. Hong Kong Unison strongly condemns the Police for its unreasonable act and demands the Police for a public apology and explanation, especially to both the victims and the Mosque.

Lastly, Unison is grateful to see hongkongers initiated to clean the contaminated facilities in the Kowloon Mosque. Regardless of ethnicity, religion, skin colour, as long as we embrace the value of equality, freedom and diversity, we are all part of Hong Kong. As remarked in an interview by a local ethnic minority in the Stand News, ‘No matter where you were born, as long as you love Hong Kong, you are a Hongkonger. So we need to stand together, as Hongkonger.’

Hongkongers, we stand as one, not one less.

20 October, 2019