Toronto police are investigating after a Liberal campaign volunteer said she was harassed for wearing a hijab while door knocking and then followed down a street while walking away with other volunteers.
The young woman was subjected to racial slurs and aggressive questions, and criticized by a resident for wearing a hijab on Wednesday afternoon in her first day as a volunteer, said Salma Zahid, Liberal candidate for Scarborough Centre-Don Valley East.
Zahid said a male campaign volunteer who was next door intervened because he felt the woman might be attacked by the resident, a middle aged man. Three volunteers were door knocking and Zahid said the resident then followed the group for about one block.
“It is really unfortunate and disturbing to see incidents like this,” Zahid said in an interview with CBC Toronto on Friday.
“Let’s respect each other’s views. It’s OK to disagree, but incidents like this will only weaken our democratic process.”
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, Zahid said the volunteer was “very shaken” by the incident. Zahid said the volunteer has told her she will not go door knocking again.
“I want to be clear that this sort of incident has no place in our community. We are a welcoming and diverse community where people from around the world have chosen to call home,” Zahid said in the post.
“Furthermore, as a woman who also wears the hijab, and was subjected to racist comments when I made this decision, I stand to be clear that no one — no government, no employer, no neighbour — has the right to tell a woman what she can and cannot choose to wear.”
The incident happened in Scarborough Centre-Don Valley East and the address has been provided to police, according to Zahid’s campaign office.
Const. Cindy Chung, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, said a report about the incident was filed and the investigation is continuing. Chung provided no other details.
On its website, the federal government says Islamophobia “includes racism, stereotypes, prejudice, fear or acts of hostility directed towards individual Muslims or followers of Islam in general.”
‘It’s absolutely unacceptable,’ advocacy group says
Reem Sheet, spokesperson for the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), an advocacy and lobby organization, said on Friday the council has been hearing reports of hate on the campaign trail across the country against various political parties.
Sheet said the council is concerned such incidents will discourage people from getting involved.
“I mean, unfortunately, it really is everywhere and it’s absolutely unacceptable,” Sheet said.
“It’s so unfortunate that these volunteers are taking time out of their day to be a part of this election, and the reception they have been getting is just negative and sometimes even violent.”
The federal election is April 28. Advance polls opened Friday.
