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Canadian police dock man over hate speech at mosque
Police in Canada detained and accused a man suspect on Sunday after a “hate-motivated incident” at a mosque in the province of Ontario on Thursday in which he reportedly drove towards a worshipper and screamed threats and religious insults.
The attack occurred in Markham, but the culprit, Sharan Karunakaran, 28, was subsequently apprehended in Toronto, according to York Regional Police.
Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng termed the event a hate crime and said it had no place in Canadian culture.
The Islamic Society of Markham (ISM) said that on Thursday, a man entered the mosque in Markham, 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north of Toronto, and allegedly tore a Koran and ranted at attendees. The ripped Koran was not mentioned in the police statement issued on Sunday.
The event occurred during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month when believers go to mosques. Thousands of people go to the Markham mosque.
Police also accused the man with making threats, assault with a weapon, and reckless driving. On Tuesday, he is set to appear in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket.
“This violence and Islamophobia have no place in our communities,” stated the Canadian trade minister, who is also a member of the local legislature, in response to the event.
