– Zaina Aman
Ajax, Ontario – A 25-year-old woman has been arrested for a violent attack on a Muslim woman at a public library near Toronto, where she attempted to set the victim’s hijab on fire. The incident occurred at the Ajax Public Library on Harwood Avenue, leading to the arrest of Kaley-Ann Freier, who now faces multiple charges, including two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
According to police, the Muslim woman was studying when an unknown female suspect approached her, hurled profanities, and threw objects at her head. The attacker then tried to remove her hijab, poured an unknown liquid on it, and attempted to ignite it with a lighter. The victim’s screams for help alerted security, prompting intervention. The suspect fled but was later arrested by authorities.
The survivor, speaking through Fatema Abdalla of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, described the attack as terrifying, expressing shock that such violence could occur in what she considered a safe space. She highlighted the fear of what might have happened had the lighter worked or if the thrown objects had hit a critical area.
Freier has been charged and is being held for a bail hearing. The attack comes amid a rising wave of Islamophobic incidents worldwide, particularly following the war on Gaza. Advocacy groups warn of growing hostility toward Muslims, citing increased hate crimes, mosque vandalism, and anti-Muslim rhetoric across North America and Europe. The Ajax library attack underscores the urgent need to address this climate of hate.
