Toronto Man Charged in Hate-Motivated Hotel Assault That Left Muslim Victim with Severe Injuries
According to York Regional Police, the incident occurred on September 28 at a hotel near Highway 7 East and Commerce Valley Drive West. Officers were called shortly after 3 a.m. after receiving reports of an assault in progress. When they arrived, they found a 54-year-old employee with serious head injuries. The victim was taken to a trauma centre, CBC News reported.
Police said the suspect, a 31-year-old man, was arrested nearby. Investigators allege the suspect became aggressive after his credit card was declined while attempting to pay for his room. A verbal altercation followed, during which the suspect asked about the employee’s religion.
“A verbal altercation ensued and the suspect’s demeanor changed when he learned the victim was Muslim,” police said in a news release. “The suspect became upset, told the victim he was going to kill him and chased him to a room where he was violently assaulted.”
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) said on social media that the victim is Muslim and that his injuries are “gruesome and life-altering.” The organization said a hotel guest asked about the employee’s ethnic and religious identity before launching the attack.
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Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combatting Islamophobia, denounced the assault as “absolutely horrifying and vicious,” adding that the man was “beaten so severely, he may never fully recover.”
She stressed that “Canadian Muslims, like all Canadians, deserve safety – Islamophobia remains an ongoing threat to our country and must be taken seriously.”
Police said the suspect has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats. They also emphasized their stance on hate-related violence. “Hate has no place in our community. We are committed to protecting all residents and take these matters seriously,” the statement said.
The NCCM expressed frustration with what it says is a pattern of rising anti-Muslim violence. “This utterly disgusting attack is one of many incidents that have been happening more and more across Canada. We don't need more words. We need change,” the organization wrote.
It urged elected officials to stop using “Islamophobic rhetoric, dog-whistles and innuendoes” that question whether Muslims belong in Canada, saying such language contributes to a hostile climate.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford condemned the assault, stating on social media: “This vile act of hate is completely unacceptable. No one should ever be targeted or feel unsafe because of their faith.” He pledged that the provincial government would “fight back against Islamophobia in all its forms.”
At the federal level, Prime Minister Mark Carney also spoke out. “The attack on a Muslim man in Markham late last month is appalling,” he said on X.
Emphasizing that “acts of violence and Islamophobia have no place in Canada,” he added: “The authorities have my full support as they work to bring the perpetrator to justice.”
Police are urging anyone who witnesses or experiences a hate crime or bias-related incident to report it immediately, saying all such cases will be investigated thoroughly.
Source: Agencies
