2 days ago
Community calls for stronger transit safety measures after Muslim teen attacked on Ottawa bus
A Muslim teenager was attacked earlier this week while riding an OC Transpo bus in Kanata, an incident community leaders say is sparking renewed concern over public safety on Ottawa's transit system.
Witnesses say the teen, who was wearing a hijab, was confronted with Islamophobic slurs and threats and was assaulted by another passenger.
The teen suffered minor injuries but Sikander Hashmi, an Imam with the Kanata Muslim Association, says the emotional impact has rippled through the community.
'When an incident like this occurs, and especially when it involves hateful comments, Islamophobic slurs and physical assault plus threats, then that can be extremely concerning and cause quite a bit of fear, as you can imagine in the community,' Hashmi says.
OC Transpo public safety officer Sabrina Pasmi condemned the act of violence, adding they're committed to ensuring all riders feel safe on every route.
'Safety is always the top priority. Always. Every day,' Pasmi says. 'It's what our staff are trained to do first and foremost and we have staff throughout the network all the time. I want to just reiterate that there is always someone there… customers are never alone.'
The transit agency encourages passengers to signal the driver, use on-board emergency buttons, or contact Transit Special Constable if they feel unsafe.
OC Transpo passenger assistance
Examples of passenger assistance buttons that can be found on OC Transpo buses. (OC Transpo)
'It is a public space, so things can happen in any public space anywhere in the city, and all we can do is to encourage people to report anything that they see,' Pasmi adds. 'If they don't feel comfortable reporting something in the moment, they can also go on our website after the fact and submit an anonymous report with anything they might have witnessed.'
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he spoke with the family of the victim shortly after the attack and says incidents like this are unacceptable and require a united response.
'it's really important to send a strong message to the community that we value the members of the Muslim community that we are aware of the rising incidents of Islamophobia, rising incidents of hatred throughout the community, and that we won't accept that,' Sutcliffe says. 'As leaders in the community, we will push back against that, we will do everything we can to keep our residents safe and to make Ottawa a place that is free from hatred.'
The Kanata Muslim Association is hosting community solidarity gathering in response to the assault at OC Transpo Innovation Drive Park & Ride in Kanata from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday.
According to Hashmi, the event will show solidarity, reject hate, and call for safer public transit.
'This is an issue that is not specific to the Muslim community, of course, this attack was Islamophobic in nature, but public safety on transit, is, I believe, a real concern to all citizens of the city,' Hashmi says. 'It's an opportunity for us to get together for all of the above.'
