Elham Asaad Buaras
Police in Ontario, Canada, are investigating a disturbing group assault on a Muslim woman, in which her hijab was forcibly removed and her head stomped, in what advocacy groups are calling a potential hate-motivated crime.
Durham Regional Police responded to a 911 call shortly after 12:30 a.m. on June 2 at a fast-food restaurant near Cedar Street and Wentworth Street West in Oshawa, located about 60 km east of Toronto.
According to investigators, a group — mainly made up of young women — entered the restaurant and created a disturbance.
“One person attempted to get behind the counter, presumably to steal something. The owner confronted the group, and the situation escalated very quickly,” said Acting Staff Sgt. Joanne McCabe during a press briefing.
“What followed was a violent swarming,” McCabe added. “Multiple individuals jumped the counter and physically attacked the victim. Surveillance footage confirms that the victim was overwhelmed by a group assault involving both physical strikes and stomping.”
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) released security footage from the restaurant, showing the woman — believed to be the owner — being assaulted by up to 10 people. The video, blurred to protect identities, depicts multiple individuals punching and kicking the victim.
“She had her hijab ripped off, her hair torn out, and was stomped on the head and neck,” said Fatema Abdalla, NCCM’s Communications Coordinator. “This is one of the most brutal group assaults we’ve seen, and it demands immediate and serious attention.”
Police confirmed they are reviewing all footage and interviewing witnesses.
“This is being treated with the highest priority,” said McCabe. “We are investigating this from all angles, including whether it may have been hate-motivated. Our Hate Crime Unit has been notified and is actively engaged.”
When asked by reporters if this could be considered a hate crime, McCabe said:
“We cannot confirm the motive at this time. However, we are not ruling anything out. It is our duty to follow all investigative leads, and that includes exploring any possible hate-related elements of the attack.”
At a press conference organised by NCCM, the victim’s daughter gave an emotional statement.
“My mom is a kind, hard-working woman,” she said through tears. “She provides for her family, runs her business, and helps others. And this is what she gets? Viciously attacked by a mob? Her hijab ripped off, her neck stomped on? This didn’t have to happen.”
She also highlighted a rise in harassment from customers in recent months:
“We’ve heard anti-Muslim remarks. We’ve felt the hostility. We tried to keep quiet, to keep working. But now? Now I’m afraid for her safety, for all of us.”
Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter called the incident “deeply troubling” and stressed the city’s commitment to safety and inclusion.
“Violence has no place in our community — especially not violence that targets someone because of their faith, ethnicity, or background,” he said in a statement.
A nearby shop owner, who knows the victim well, described her as a generous and beloved figure in the neighbourhood.
“She helps the poor, she gives away food to those in need, she’s like a mother to many people here,” the shopkeeper told local media. “This is beyond wrong.”
The NCCM says this attack follows a disturbing trend of anti-Muslim incidents across Ontario and Canada more broadly. In March 2025, a woman’s hijab was deliberately set on fire at a public library in Ajax, also in Durham Region.
“We’re seeing more incidents like this, and it’s not random,” said Abdalla. “There is a real fear growing in our communities. We are asking for this to be treated not just as a criminal case, but as part of a wider, systemic problem.”
“We call on both provincial and federal leaders to take urgent steps,” she added. “We need a national action plan to combat Islamophobia. We need proper resources for hate crime investigations. We need justice.”
As of Wednesday evening, no arrests had been made. Police said they are reviewing video footage and speaking to witnesses and urge anyone with information to come forward.
Acting Staff Sgt. McCabe concluded, “This is a very serious incident. We are determined to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. Whether this was a random act, a robbery gone wrong, or something fuelled by hate — we will find out.”
