The Ottawa Police Service’s hate crime and bias unit is investigating after a woman’s hijab was pulled off during a demonstration outside an Israel Independence Day ceremony at city hall.
The May 14 incident was captured on video and has since been shared widely on social media.
Hayfa Abdelkhaleq, who identified herself to CBC as the woman in the video, said she’s still shaken by what happened.
“I feel really down. She humiliated me. I can’t sleep normal, I can’t eat normal, I’m not functioning normally,” she said.
WATCH: Woman has hijab pulled off at pro-Palestinian demonstration at Ottawa’s city hall
Hayfa Abdelkhaleq had her hijab pulled off while she was attending a pro-Palestinian demonstration protesting a flag-raising ceremony for Israel’s Independence Day. Ottawa police said they are investigating it as a hate-motivated incident.
In the video, Abdelkhaleq can be seen waving a large Palestinian flag with the words “Free Palestine” on it. She’s heard chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Another person enters the frame and shows their middle finger to the camera before reaching out and pulling off Abdelkhaleq’s hijab.
In an unblurred version of the video reviewed by CBC, Abdelkhaleq’s hijab is entirely removed from her head, revealing her hair.
The person starts to walk away and can be seen saying something to Abdelkhaleq, who responds with, “Shame, shame on you.”
Abdelkhaleq said the woman swore at her and told her to “go back home.” She said she felt “scared” and “shocked” and quickly tried to cover her hair again.
“I felt like … when someone takes off your clothes,” she said in tears.
CBC has not been able to identify the other individual in the video to seek their comment.
‘I’m still shocked’
After composing herself, Abdelkhaleq said she tried to follow the person, whom she saw join the flag-raising ceremony. She said she told a police officer who was monitoring the event about what happened.
Shortly after, Abdelkhaleq said she filed a police report and was connected to someone from the police’s hate crime and bias unit.
She said she’s stayed in contact with them in hopes of getting an update.
“After I see even the video now, I’m still shocked,” Abdelkhaleq said. “I can’t believe this happened, and I don’t want this [to] happen to any other Muslim girl.”
Police still haven’t ID’d suspect
In an email, Ottawa police said they’re treating what happened to Abdelkhaleq as a hate-motivated incident.
The suspect still hasn’t been identified, police said. They’re still investigating and are looking to anyone who may have seen what happened or might have more information.
Abdelkhaleq said she feels “really disappointed” by how long it’s taking to identify the person in the video.
“In front of the city hall, there’s a million cameras. They can find her,” she said.
The woman who pulled off her hijab should be held accountable, Abdelkhaleq said, adding that she considers what happened to have been anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic.
She said she frequently attends Pro-Palestinian protests and has never experienced an incident like this.
As someone born and raised in Nablus in the West Bank, Abdelkhaleq said she remains committed to supporting the Palestinian cause.
“I will never be silent, I have to keep speaking up,” she said.