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The National Council of Canadian Muslims is condemning a recent attack on a Black Muslim woman at an Edmonton LRT station and calling for action from police to address a recent string of hate-motivated activity in the city.
In a news release Wednesday through the organization, the woman said she was waiting at Century Park LRT Station last Wednesday when a man approached her and threatened to physically assault and kill her.
The woman, referred to be the pseudonym M.W., was wearing a hijab and said the man swore and gestured toward her with a fist.
Following the council’s news release, Edmonton Police Service (EPS) spokesman Scott Pattison confirmed they are aware of the incident and it is still under investigation. The hate crimes and extremism unit has met with the woman to confirm details of the attack and offer support, Pattison said in a statement.
This is the sixth hate-motivated attack being investigated by Edmonton police since December. Sameha Omer, the council’s director of legal affairs, is calling on Edmonton police to do more to address this increase.
“We need to see EPS take concrete action to address the recent trend of hate-motivated incidents, racism and Islamophobia, particularly against Black Muslim women, through a clear action plan. This may necessitate a review of internal policies and procedures that deal with the reporting of such incidents and intake by police officers,” Omer said in the news release.
More to come.
