Muslim Woman Brutally Attacked in Ontario Restaurant, Hijab Allegedly Removed

The incident took place in a restaurant in Oshawa. According to the police, a woman was the victim of a violent attack orchestrated by a group of individuals whose behavior was already problematic in the establishment, on Wednesday morning. The police report that one of the persons jumped over the counter, where the woman had tried to block their path. A violent struggle ensued. In the aftermath, several other individuals also jumped over the counter and attacked the victim, the police added.

The assailants would have removed the victim’s hijab during the attack, according to the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM). Information not yet confirmed by the Durham Regional Police. "Any information on this attack will be part of the investigation and will not be disclosed," said a spokesperson. The only certainty is that the suspects are "young offenders."

The victim is struggling with this attack. She "is shaken, testified her daughter whom Radio-Canada does not name in order to protect her, as well as her family. The attack has marked her and she is now raw." The young woman was "in shock" when looking at the images of the attack, which were captured by a surveillance camera. "Our family has noticed an increase in Islamophobic attitudes and actions from the restaurant’s customers. Moreover, this is not the first time a crime has been committed in the restaurant," confided the one who had helped her mother at the restaurant in the past.

For its part, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) says it is "dismayed," "disgusted" and "angry" about what it describes as an Islamophobic attack on a Muslim woman. "It’s hard to describe what our community is feeling right now. We need to act, to move from words to action. Our elected officials must recognize what is happening in the country and formulate a real plan with real solutions," said Omar Khamissa, NCCM’s Chief Operating Officer, during a press conference.