Latest news with #AjaxPublicLibrary
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Statement by Special Representative Amira Elghawaby on the Fourth Anniversary of the London Family Attack - June 6, 2025 Français
OTTAWA, ON, June 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Today marks four years since the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of four members of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario – an act of Islamophobic hatred that shook Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It was not only an attack on one family, or community, but on our shared values as Canadians. It is important to remember Salman, Madiha, Yumnah, and Talat, and to honour "Our London Family" by continuing the vital work of combatting Islamophobia and all forms of hate for a more inclusive Canada. We continue to hear about concerning incidents of Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab hate. One of the most recent attacks was on a Muslim woman at the Ajax Public Library where the assailant forcibly removed her hijab and attempted to set it on fire. As Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, I remain steadfast in my commitment to supporting the federal government's efforts towards promoting inclusion, advancing safety and well-being, and protecting freedom of religion and civil liberties for all. I have been hearing from families, community members and leaders, from a range of backgrounds and experiences who are dedicated to nurturing safer communities. They have been calling for more action to ensure that Canada is a place where everyone can be proud of who they are and free to worship as they wish. Their experiences and insights are key towards building community-informed solutions, including creating resources that can be utilized in workplaces, schools, and within community spaces. This year, we launched a landmark resource to support these efforts: the Canadian Guide on Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a more inclusive Canada, the first government-produced document of its kind. In memory of "Our London Family", and all those who were deliberately killed in Islamophobic attacks in our country, let us recommit to advancing awareness, understanding, and hope.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Statement by Special Representative Amira Elghawaby on the Fourth Anniversary of the London Family Attack - June 6, 2025
OTTAWA, ON, June 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Today marks four years since the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of four members of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario – an act of Islamophobic hatred that shook Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It was not only an attack on one family, or community, but on our shared values as Canadians. It is important to remember Salman, Madiha, Yumna, and Talat, and to honour "Our London Family" by continuing the vital work of combatting Islamophobia and all forms of hate for a more inclusive Canada. We continue to hear about concerning incidents of Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab hate. One of the most recent attacks was on a Muslim woman at the Ajax Public Library where the assailant forcibly removed her hijab and attempted to set it on fire. As Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, I remain steadfast in my commitment to supporting the federal government's efforts towards promoting inclusion, advancing safety and well-being, and protecting freedom of religion and civil liberties for all. I have been hearing from families, community members and leaders, from a range of backgrounds and experiences who are dedicated to nurturing safer communities. They have been calling for more action to ensure that Canada is a place where everyone can be proud of who they are and free to worship as they wish. Their experiences and insights are key towards building community-informed solutions, including creating resources that can be utilized in workplaces, schools, and within community spaces. This year, we launched a landmark resource to support these efforts: the Canadian Guide on Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a more inclusive Canada, the first government-produced document of its kind. In memory of "Our London Family", and all those who were deliberately killed in Islamophobic attacks in our country, let us recommit to advancing awareness, understanding, and hope. Find out more about the Special Representative's office mandate and activities by subscribing to the newsletter. SOURCE Office of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia View original content:
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Victim speaks out after woman allegedly tried to light her hijab on fire inside Ajax library
A hijab-wearing woman who was nearly set on fire at an Ontario library over the weekend is speaking out about the "absolute horror" of what police have said was an unprovoked attack. The victim's statement was read aloud by a member of the advocacy group National Council of Canadian Muslims at a news conference on Monday afternoon. "I never imagined that a visit to my favourite, quiet corner of the library would turn into one of the most terrifying moments of my life," said the victim's statement read by senior advocacy officer Fatema Abdalla. Durham Regional Police say a woman was studying at the Ajax Public Library at noon on Saturday, when she was approached by an unknown woman yelling profanities at her and throwing objects at her head. Police say the 25-year-old suspect then tried to remove the woman's hijab while pouring an unknown liquid onto it. "I can't stop thinking, 'What if the lighter had worked? What if my hijab had caught on fire?'" said the victim's statement. Police said the suspect fled the library, but was arrested a few hours later and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to comply with probation order. NCCM CEO Stephen Brown said the organization is strongly urging police to investigate the incident as a hate crime. "It is an outrage that this kind of violence has become a regular occurrence in our community. Incidents of Islamophobia have increased exponentially in recent years. It is time for our elected leaders to step up and address this issue collaboratively." The NCCM's chief operating officer described the attack as "horrific." "I wasn't shocked, I was frustrated. I was angry that our community still has to deal with this type of behaviour — angry that we have been told by so many that Islamophobia doesn't exist," said Omar Khamissa. With the federal election approaching, the group said it's calling on all political parties to come up with detailed plans on how to address Islamophobia, pointing to the 2021 London, Ont., terror attack that killed four members of a Muslim family and the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting that left six men dead and 19 others injured as examples of hate turning deadly. The group also says its intake line has received hundreds of calls about Islamophobia-related incidents over the past year, though such incidents are likely underreported to police due to a lack of trust by communities. Durham Regional Police say officers responded to an assault call at the main branch of the Ajax Public Library at noon on Saturday. (Mike Cole/CBC) Ajax's deputy mayor Sterling Lee also spoke at Monday's news conference, calling the incident a "shocking reminder" that the community "is not immune to the intolerance and hatred that persist in our world." The Town of Ajax released a statement on Sunday saying: "The library strives to be a safe and welcoming space for everyone, and acts of hate and violence will not be tolerated in any town facility or public space."
CBC
24-03-2025
- CBC
Victim speaks out after woman allegedly tried to light her hijab on fire inside Ajax library
A hijab-wearing woman who was nearly set on fire at an Ontario library over the weekend is speaking out about the "absolute horror" of the alleged attack. The victim's statement was read aloud by a member of the National Council of Canadian Muslim at a news conference on Monday afternoon. "I never imagined that a visit to my favourite, quiet corner of the library would turn into one of the most terrifying moments of my life," said the victim's statement read by senior advocacy officer Fatema Abdalla. Durham Regional Police say a woman was studying at the Ajax Public Library at noon on Saturday, when she was approached by an unknown woman yelling profanities at her and throwing objects at her head. Police say the 25-year-old suspect then tried to remove the woman's hijab while pouring an unknown liquid onto it. "I can't stop thinking, 'What if the lighter had worked? What if my hijab had caught on fire?'" said the victim's statement. Police said the suspect fled the library, but was arrested a few hours later and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to comply with probation order. NCCM CEO Stephen Brown said the organization is strongly urging police to investigate the incident as a hate crime. "It is an outrage that this kind of violence has become a regular occurrence in our community. Incidents of Islamophobia have increased exponentially in recent years. It is time for our elected leaders to step up and address this issue collaboratively."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
'We are horrified': Ajax, Ont., mayor and community react after police say hijab-wearing woman almost lit on fire
Members of the Ajax, Ont., community are expressing how "horrified" they are to hear officers detail a weekend attack where a woman wearing a hijab was almost set on fire. According to police, a suspect now faces charges following the incident at a public library. At noon on Saturday, Durham Regional Police responded to an assault call at the main branch of Ajax Public Library. Officers indicated the hijab-wearing woman was studying until she was allegedly approached by a 25-year-old woman who started yelling profanities and throwing objects at her head. Police then stated the suspect tried to remove the woman's hijab and poured an unknown liquid onto it. Then, police say she grabbed a lighter and tried to set the woman's head on fire, until the woman screamed for help and security got involved. While the suspect fled, police say she was arrested a few hours later. Now she's facing wo counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to comply with probation order. Authorities are still investigating the incident. "On behalf of Ajax Council and the Ajax Library Board, we are horrified by the act of violence ... which appears to have been motivated by Islamophobia," a joint statement from Major Shaun Collier and library board chair Piyali Correya said. "The Library strives to be a safe and welcoming space for everyone, and acts of hate and violence will not be tolerated in any town facility or public space." They continued to say they're "here to support" anyone who has been impacted by this attack, and that they aim to "stand up against all forms of hate and intolerance." That's especially the case because the incident occurred during Ramadan, which runs until March 29. Canadian Muslim organizations also shared statements following the news. The National Council of Canadian Muslims indicated it was "horrified, though not shocked" over the attempt: "We are outraged to learn of this unprovoked attack on a Muslim woman. ... We are closely monitoring this case and strongly urge authorities to investigate this assault as a hate crime." The Muslim Advisory Council of Canada also expressed how the incident "was not random," adding it was a "brazen act of Islamophobia and gendered violence" and demanded that "Muslim women deserve to feel safe."
