Toronto Police urged to investigate assault on Muslim woman at Walmart as possible hate crime

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has called on the Toronto Police Service (TPS) to investigate a violent assault on a Muslim woman in a local Walmart as a potentially hate-motivated crime.

The attack, which took place on January 8th, 2023, involved an unidentified male who punched the victim in the face as she was going down an escalator, causing her to lose consciousness and fall down the escalator.

The woman was wearing a niqab at the time of the attack, which resulted in serious injuries, including a severe concussion and severe damage to her head and face.

The victim has been hospitalized since the incident and is still recovering.

Despite the presence of many witnesses at the time of the assault, the police have yet to locate the suspect, and there have been no meaningful updates on the case.

The NCCM expressed their disappointment and urged the police to take immediate action, as this is a serious matter that requires prompt investigation.

The victim's physical and mental health has been significantly affected by the attack, and justice must be delivered to help her and her family move on from this traumatic experience.

The NCCM emphasized that this incident highlights the importance of combating hate crimes and fostering a safe and inclusive community for all: "It is crucial for the police to take hate-motivated crimes seriously and to investigate them with the utmost urgency. Delay and foot-dragging only serve to erode the trust between law enforcement and the community they serve."

NCCM have called on the TPS to take immediate action to investigate the assault on the Muslim woman inside Walmart as a potentially hate-motivated crime: "It is time for the police to deliver justice and show the community that they take hate crimes seriously. Only then can we begin to move forward as a united and inclusive society."