Ontario Islamic Centre Receives Protection After Hate-Crime Incident
The Niagara Falls Review – December 8, 2010
A Niagara Falls, Ontario Islamic Centre has formally requested police protection as they begin a 10-day religious observance less than a week after two of their members were allegedly attacked outside a doctor’s facility. Justin Nasser, a spokesman for the Almahdi Islamic Centre of Niagara, said centre officials made the request of police because they have concerns about the safety of their members following Friday’s incident.
Niagara Regional Police hasbannounced they had charged two men with assault with a weapon in connection with the incident, which occurred inside the centre’s gated parking lot. Police allege racial slurs were directed toward the victims throughout the attack. Other members of the centre came to the aid of the victims and held the suspects until police arrived.
The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), a national Muslim civil rights organization, issued a statement applauding the way police in Niagara are handling the case. Members of the Almahdi Islamic Centre of Niagara were expected to begin a series religious events marking Muharrum, the first month of the Islamic calendar.