10/08/2025
Ottawa, October 2025 — The Suradway Parents Association of Ottawa is calling for equitable attention and accountability in how hate-motivated incidents are investigated and reported across the city. Over the past two months, Ottawa has seen three violent attacks, all determined or investigated as hate-motivated: August 27 – College Square Loblaws: A Jewish woman was stabbed in an antisemitic assault that prompted national headlines and public condemnations from multiple levels of government. August 11 – OC Transpo Bus (Kanata): A young Muslim woman wearing a hijab was assaulted and threatened; charges included inciting hate. The Prime Minister and the Mayor issued statements denouncing the attack. August 25 – Blair Station: A Black Muslim woman was beaten and left bloodied and unable to work. Initially treated as a simple assault by OC Transpo, the case was later upgraded to a hate-motivated offence and transferred to the Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit. Despite the Blair Station incident now being officially recognized as hate-motivated, no major media outlet has covered the case, and no political leader has issued a public statement. “When our political leaders and media outlets bring attention to hate crimes, they send a message to Canadians about the kind of nation we want to be, and about our values — selective empathy shouldn’t be one of them.” — Abdirizak Mohamud, Managing Director, Suradway Parents Association of Ottawa Suradway is urging local and national institutions to adopt consistent standards of transparency and public communication when responding to hate-motivated violence. The organization also calls on newsrooms to ensure equal visibility for all victims, regardless of race, faith, or background. “Hate in Ottawa wears many faces — but our compassion and accountability must be one.” — Abdirizak Mohamud
