Latest news with #FatemaAbdalla
Hamilton Spectator
05-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Five wanted, including three girls, in swarming assault of Muslim woman at Oshawa Pizza Pizza
Police are searching for five suspects — including three girls — after an anti-Islamophobia organization said the Muslim owner of an Oshawa Pizza Pizza was attacked , had her hijab ripped off and was stomped on by a group of people earlier this week. Durham police said in a Saturday news release that they are searching for the suspects who 'appear to be young people' in the swarming assault at the Wentworth Street West restaurant around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday. According to police, 'a violent struggle ensued' between the assailants and the victim after one of them jumped over the counter and attempted to take an item. The others then joined and attacked the victim, police said. More people were present during the incident, police told the Star, but were either not involved or tried to intervene and stop the assault. 'We need real change,' the National Council of Canadian Muslims said in a post on X , pointing to a string of 'disturbing anti-Muslim crimes' in the region, including an attempt to light a woman's hijab on fire at an Ajax library . 'These are clear representations of rising Islamophobic incidents across Canada ... We have no time to waste.' The daughter of the store owner, who did not give her name at a press conference organized by the NCCM at Oshawa City Hall on Thursday, said her mother was 'deeply shaken.' 'The incident has left her scarred and extremely on edge,' she said, adding they have experienced ongoing discrimination she said they have previously flagged to authorities without being provided adequate resources. She did not specify what occurred during those incidents. Police confirmed that it is investigating the violent swarming attack early Wednesday morning. 'Did it have to take almost a dozen people viciously beating my mother, ripping her hijab off, tearing out clumps of her hair, stomping on her neck, her back, for us to say that this environment has become unsafe for us?' Fatema Abdalla, senior advocacy officer with the council, said at the same press conference that they were 'deeply disgusted' by the attack. But, she said, 'We can no longer say that we are surprised.' Police said the incident was captured on store surveillance video, and they are working with Hate Crime and Equity and Inclusion units to investigate if it was a hate motivated offence. NCCM published a short clip with blurred out faces that shows a woman wearing a hijab being assaulted by a group of people behind the counter. The first suspect is described as a girl between 12 and 15 with a thin build and long braids. She was wearing a grey T-shirt, grey spandex pants and black sandals, police said. The second suspect is described as another girl between 12 and 15 with a thin build and black braids tied in a bun, wearing an orange hoodie, black leggings and black shoes. The third suspect is described as a girl between 11 and 12 with a thin build and black box braids wearing a grey hoodie, black leggings and black shoes. Police are also seeking two male suspects of unknown ages. One male suspect has a slim build and was wearing a black hoodie, black pants and white shoes, according to police. The second male suspect is described as having a slim build and wearing a black hoodie, black mask, black puffer vest and black-and-white Nike Dunk shoes. While video of the incident is circulating online, police are reminding the public that the Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits publishing information that would identify a young person accused of a crime. This incident comes as South Asians are seeing a steep increase of hate-motivated incidents in Canada , as well as a continuing rise in Islamophobia. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 905-579-1520 x 2765 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). With files from Allie Moustakis, Jennifer Pagliaro and Raju Mudhar Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
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."
