A hijab-wearing lady who was almost set on hearth at an Ontario library over the weekend is talking out concerning the “absolute horror” of what police have stated was an unprovoked assault.
The sufferer’s assertion was learn aloud by a member of the advocacy group Nationwide Council of Canadian Muslims at a information convention on Monday afternoon.
“I by no means imagined {that a} go to to my favorite, quiet nook of the library would flip into one of the terrifying moments of my life,” stated the sufferer’s assertion learn by senior advocacy officer Fatema Abdalla.
Durham Regional Police say a girl was learning on the Ajax Public Library at midday on Saturday, when she was approached by an unknown lady yelling profanities at her and throwing objects at her head.
Police say the 25-year-old suspect then tried to take away the girl’s hijab whereas pouring an unknown liquid onto it.
“I can not cease pondering, ‘What if the lighter had labored? What if my hijab had caught on hearth?'” stated the sufferer’s assertion.
Police stated the suspect fled the library, however was arrested a couple of hours later and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to adjust to probation order.
NCCM CEO Stephen Brown stated the group is strongly urging police to research the incident as a hate crime.
“It’s an outrage that this sort of violence has grow to be a daily prevalence in our neighborhood. Incidents of Islamophobia have elevated exponentially in recent times. It’s time for our elected leaders to step up and handle this subject collaboratively.”
The NCCM’s chief working officer described the assault as “horrific.”
“I wasn’t shocked, I used to be annoyed. I used to be offended that our neighborhood nonetheless has to cope with one of these behaviour — offended that we now have been informed by so many who Islamophobia does not exist,” stated Omar Khamissa.
With the federal election approaching, the group stated it is calling on all political events to provide you with detailed plans on find out how to handle Islamophobia, pointing to the 2021 London, Ont., terror attack that killed 4 members of a Muslim household and the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting that left six males useless and 19 others injured as examples of hate turning lethal.
The group additionally says its consumption line has acquired a whole bunch of calls about Islamophobia-related incidents over the previous yr, although such incidents are seemingly underreported to police due to a lack of trust by communities.
Ajax’s deputy mayor Sterling Lee additionally spoke at Monday’s information convention, calling the incident a “surprising reminder” that the neighborhood “shouldn’t be resistant to the intolerance and hatred that persist in our world.”
The City of Ajax launched a press release on Sunday saying: “The library strives to be a secure and welcoming area for everybody, and acts of hate and violence won’t be tolerated in any city facility or public area.”
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