But his colleagues disagree.
Gamal Fouda is running for the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board and within two days he has had six of his election billboards either stolen or vandalised.
In spite of this, he did not think he was being targeted and there was any racial motivation behind the vandalism.
"I accept that this kind happens in campaigns but it does not make it right.
"This is not the kind of behaviour we want to see in our neighbourhood," he said.
However, fellow People's Choice candidate Anthony Rimell feared the vandalism could be racially motivated.
"Both Gamal and Manish are standing with me in part to show the value of inclusion and aroha. These attacks will not undermine our call for a more inclusive and united community," he said.
Manish Pandey, who is running for the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board also told The Star he feared they were being targeted.
Mr Fouda, who has been the Imam of the Al Noor mosque for the last three years, received widespread praise for his response to the March 15 shootings which left 51 dead, including 44 from his own congregation.
A week after the shootings he led a mass call to prayer where thousands of people including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern heard his message that "evil ideology" will never triumph over "love and unity."
