An alleged assault victim at an Ottawa transit station in August is questioning why the incident was not publicly disclosed despite being probed by the hate and bias crime unit of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). The assault on Arfon Barow, a 64-year-old Muslim woman wearing a hijab, occurred on Aug. 25 at Blair station, leaving her with enduring injuries.
Expressing her desire for people to acknowledge her suffering, Barow, speaking through interpreter Abdirizak Mohamud of the Suradway Parents’ Association of Ottawa, emphasized the severity of her injuries and the need to alert the public about similar incidents.
No official statements were issued by the police or OC Transpo concerning the assault back in August. Mohamud highlighted the importance of reporting such incidents, especially within communities with existing trust issues towards local authorities.
Ottawa police confirmed that special constables responded to a reported assault on Aug. 25 in the 1200 block of Blair Road. The case was later transferred to the hate and bias crime unit, resulting in the charging of a 49-year-old woman for assault causing bodily harm.
Barow described how the assailant had harassed and filmed her on an OC Transpo bus before following her to Blair station, where the assault took place in front of bystanders who did not intervene.
Despite managing to escape, Barow sustained severe injuries, prompting her to seek help from the bus driver. She was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment, but her recovery has been slow, with ongoing physical limitations and visible injuries.
Expressing disappointment over the lack of public acknowledgment of her attack, Barow questioned the silence surrounding her case compared to other hate-motivated incidents that received media attention.
In response to the incident, Ottawa police refrained from commenting on the specific case but mentioned that not all hate-related investigations are publicized due to privacy concerns and investigative needs.
Community members, including Aisha Sherazi, emphasized the importance of transparency in reporting hate-related incidents to build trust and ensure public safety. Sherazi stressed the shared responsibility in promoting safety within communities.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by police in deciding when to publicize hate-related incidents, the need for building trust through information sharing was underscored by community leaders.
OC Transpo’s chief special constable, Peter Scislowski, mentioned ongoing collaborations with OPS on new strategies to address hate-motivated incidents, aiming to enhance safety measures.