Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have strongly condemned a violent Islamophobic assault on a Muslim hotel employee in Markham, a northern suburb of Toronto. The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stronger action against hate crimes in Canada.
Police said a 54-year-old Muslim man working as a night auditor at a Markham hotel was attacked late last month after being questioned about his ethnic and religious background by two customers. One of them later returned and launched a violent assault, leaving the victim with life-altering injuries.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Geethansan Sriranjan. He reportedly threatened to kill the victim and chased him into a room before assaulting him. The Hate Crime Prevention Unit has charged the accused, describing the assault as “hate-motivated.”
Prime Minister Carney called the attack “appalling” and said acts of Islamophobia and violence have no place in Canada. He assured that authorities have his full support in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
Premier Doug Ford also condemned the assault, calling it “completely unacceptable.” He reaffirmed that the Ontario government stands with the Muslim community and will continue to fight against Islamophobia in all its forms.
The attack has renewed discussions among advocacy groups urging stronger community education, stricter hate crime penalties, and consistent government accountability in combating Islamophobia.
