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The violent assault of a 56-year-old Black man as he was driving home with his family from a Muslim centre northwest of Edmonton has shaken the region’s Black immigrant communities.
Community leader and human rights advocate Ahmed Abdulqadir told CBC News that the victim, Ali Wahed Noor, is still receiving medical assistance for injuries he sustained in an attack last week.
RCMP said in a news release that officers are investigating the incident and said “there is indication that racial slurs were uttered during the assault.”
On May 1, Noor was driving home with his family after Jummah prayer at the Muslim Association of St. Albert — which also houses that city’s mosque — when he crossed paths with an erratic driver who overtook his car, Abdulqadir said.
He said the driver proceeded to block Noor at an intersection, got out of his vehicle and proceeded to hurl Islamophobic and racial slurs, including the N-word, at Noor.
According to Abdulqadir, the driver demanded Noor get out of his car and began to punch Noor in the face, knocking him unconscious. Abdulqadir said Noor’s wife, who was in the car with her husband, ran away screaming.
Abdulqadir said it was thanks to Good Samaritans who witnessed the scene and were able to call 911 and administer first aid to Noor. Paramedics then took him to hospital.
“I couldn’t believe [it] — he was devastated, morally and physically,” Abdulqadir told CBC News as he recounted first coming to visit Noor in the hospital.
“His wife couldn’t believe it. They didn’t know what to do. They’ve been here over 11 years, and they have never experienced anything like this.”
In a news release on Wednesday, RCMP said they received multiple calls about the assault as it was happening and located a suspect shortly after.
A 40-year-old St. Albert man, Ryan Richard Lacasse, has been charged with aggravated assault and uttering threats and two traffic safety offences.
Police said he was released on an undertaking with conditions, and is next scheduled to appear in court in St. Albert on June 8.
Abdulqadir said he believes the charges laid on Thursday are inadequate.
“We acknowledge that aggravated assault is a serious criminal charge,” he said in a statement issued to CBC News. “However, many members of the Muslim community remain concerned that the alleged hateful and anti-Muslim nature of this attack has not yet been fully reflected in the charges announced publicly.
“We respectfully call on authorities to continue examining all evidence, including witness statements and reported language used during the assault, to determine whether hate motivation should be formally recognized as part of this case.”
The RCMP said a pre-charge assessment package was provided to a Crown prosecutor so they could make their decision on what specific charges should be laid.
Speaking broadly, Insp. Aaron White, the officer in charge of the St. Albert RCMP, said “racism of any kind has no place in our community.”
“Incidents like this are deeply troubling, yet we know that St. Albert is a safe and welcoming city, filled with empathetic, compassionate people. The St. Albert RCMP remains committed and focused on ensuring our community continues to be safe for all.”
Ahmed Abdulqadir told CBC the accused demanded Noor get out of his car after which he began to punch Noor in the face, knocking him unconscious. Abdulqadir said Noor’s wife, who was in the car with her husband, ran away screaming. (Name withheld by request)
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has offered its support to the Noor family and told CBC News on Wednesday that the organization is demanding accountability for the family.
“They’re shaken up and are really frightened and worried,” Yahya Jama, Western Canada advocacy lead at the NCCM, said in an interview with CBC News.
“These kinds of incidents are unfortunately far too common. We’ve seen a string of similar attacks in Edmonton just a few years back, and these haven’t really gone away.
“With the recent increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric that’s being driven across the province, we’ve only seen a corresponding increase in these attacks, and it’s alarming to our community and to many racialized communities across the province.”
Both Abdulqadir and Jama said the community is working to help restore the family’s sense of safety.
CBC News requested comment from the Alberta government about the St. Albert assault and received a statement that said, “there is absolutely no place for hate or intolerance in Alberta.”
“Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, at work, in their communities and in their place of worship,” said associate ministry of multiculturalism spokesperson Juliana Rodriguez.
“Alberta’s government will continue to build a province where all Albertans, regardless of race or religious beliefs, can succeed and contribute to our culture, economy and thriving communities.”