By Rumki Chowdhury
On Saturday morning, March 22nd, a Canadian-Muslim Hijabi woman walked into Ajax Public Library in Ontario, and was verbally and physically attacked by a complete stranger. This incident is just one case among the approximate 50-80% (depending on the country) rise in Islamophobic and Hijabophobic attacks worldwide, just this past year.
Among the G7 nations, Canada is the leading nation in Islamophobia-related deaths in the past seven years, according to Omar Khamissa, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) Chief Operating Officer.
“What happened on Saturday could’ve easily increased that number,” Khamissa said at a press conference held on Monday, March 24th. “Canadians need to know this, they need to know this especially right now as we’re in an election cycle.”
The victim of Islamophobia and Hijabophobia, pleaded with library security for intervention and they did try to help until Police arrived. The Durham Regional Police Force (DTPS) arrived at Ajax Public Library around noon, immediately questioning the victim, who remains anonymous. DTPS, then, arrested the perpetrator, 25-year-old Kaley-Ann Freieron, and charged her with two counts of assault with a weapon (a lighter) and three counts of failure to comply with a probation order. Freier is currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
DTPS released a statement: “The female began yelling profanities at the victim and throwing objects at her head…. The suspect fled the library but was located by officers a few hours later and taken into custody without incident…. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, investigators are required to consult with the Crown Attorney’s office to determine whether the evidence meets the legal threshold for hate to be considered a factor.”
Nevertheless, NCCM is asking DTPS to identify this incident as a “hate crime.”
The victim released a statement in which she expressed her fear for her own daughters, who also wear hijab and are growing up in an Islamophobic and Hijabophobic society. Fatema Abdalla, an advocacy officer with the NCCM, read the victim’s statement out loud at the press conference:
“Since that day, I haven’t been able to sleep properly…. Every time I close my eyes, the incident replays over and over again. I toss and turn, gripped by my fear…. I keep asking myself ‘Why, why would someone attack me for just peacefully sitting there?’ I can’t stop thinking, ‘What if the lighter had worked? What if my hijab had caught on fire?’ I never imagined that a visit to my favorite, quiet corner of the library would turn into one of the most terrifying moments of my life.”
On his X account, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Liberal Party) said, “This type of violence is not an isolated incident. Islamophobia is real, it is dangerous, and it must stop. I offer my support and prayers to the victim of this terrible act and am relieved that the police acted quickly and made an arrest.”
Similarly, New Democratic Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, wrote on his X account: “This hate-motivated attack is a reminder that divisive rhetoric is a stain on our country and not part of our Canadian values. My heart goes out to the victim, her family, and the Muslim community. I stand with you.”
About the Author:
Rumki Chowdhury is the Editor of the World Hijab Day Organization. She holds a Masters of English Literature from the Queen Mary University of London and a Bachelors in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey. She holds the honor of being an award-winning published author and poet who has experience in the worlds of publishing, media and academia. Moreover, she is married and is a blessed mother of three daughters.
