Sikh Man Assaulted, Robbed And Racially Abused in Canada

The World Sikh Organisation of Canada has asked the Ottawa police to bring the attackers to justice.

Sikh Coalition in Chicago protesting against hate crimes directed towards Sikhs. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo courtesy: Twitter/@Sikhcoalition)

A Sikh man was reportedly attacked by two white men in Ottawa, Canada on Friday, 23 March. Apart from robbing him and tearing the turban off his head, the two men threatened him with a knife. They also hurled racial slurs at him, Canadian media reported on Tuesday.

He was asked specifically about his ethnicity and then there were some racial slurs that came along with that. They also asked him whether he’d ever cut his hair or his beard, so, that’s pretty specific, so at a minimum we’re suggesting at this point that there were some racial overtones to this.

Mike Haarbosch, Staff Sergeant, Ottawa Police

CBC news reported that the incident occurred at 11:25 pm on Friday, near the Westgate Shopping Centre in Ottawa.

Two men reportedly approached the victim while he was waiting for a bus. They asked the man questions about his ethnicity and whether he had ever cut his hair or beard.

Police said the men then left and returned, asking the man for change. They then proceeded to hurl racial slurs at him and threatened him a knife, CBC news added.

The man attempted to escape by running to a nearby establishment, which was shut.

The two men then assaulted him, dragging him on the ground, Ottawa police added. They then stole his turban, phone and bus pass.

Canadian Leaders Condemn Attack

Political leaders of both the democratic and conservative parties in Canada condemned the attack, adding that the Sikh community in Canada have for “long stood on guard for our freedom”.

World Sikh Organisation of Canada Calls on Ottawa Police to Bring Attackers to Justice

The World Sikh Organisation of Canada expressed shock over the alleged hate crime.

The forcible removal of a Sikh’s turban is considered the greatest insult a Sikh can be subjected to and is being taken very seriously by the community. We call on the Ottawa Police Service to investigate this incident as a hate crime and ensure that whose responsible are quickly brought to justice. 

Mukhbir Singh, President, The World Sikh Organisation of Canada

The organisation added that this compounded fear of racial violence against Sikhs in recent times, with President Singh adding, “We'd feared that the recent accusations of extremism and radicalism leveled against the Sikh community would lead to an increase in intolerance against Sikhs. This incident appears to substantiate those fears... We encourage members of the Sikh community to remain vigilant as more details about the assault emerge”.

Paramedics treated the victim for minor injuries, and Ottawa police are currently investigating the case, exploring whether it was a hate crime.

(With inputs from CBC News and Sikh Siyasat News)