OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has strongly denounced a violent assault against a young Muslim woman in Ottawa, calling the incident “reprehensible” and urging swift accountability for the perpetrator.
The attack took place on August 11 aboard an OC Transpo bus traveling to Kanata’s Morgan’s Grant area. According to reports, a man boarded the bus, whispered an Islamophobic slur to the hijabi passenger, and then slapped her without provocation. He allegedly went on to threaten that he would smash her face against the window and kill her before exiting at Penfield Drive in Kanata.
In a statement, Carney expressed deep concern over the incident. “Yesterday, a young Muslim woman in Ottawa suffered an unprovoked assault on public transit, including with reprehensible Islamophobic threats and slurs,” he said. “Hate and violence have no place in our city, or our country. The perpetrator must be held accountable, and my thoughts today are with the victim. No one should be unsafe as they head to work or school in our communities.”
Authorities are investigating the case, and Ottawa Police have urged anyone with information to come forward. The incident has sparked outrage among local communities and advocacy groups, who say it highlights the need for stronger measures to combat hate crimes in Canada.
