London lawyer questions police inaction after a Muslim man was attacked in a parking lot

One London, Ontario. Attorney wonders why no assault charges were brought against a man who allegedly tried to drag a 75-year-old man out of his car during a road traffic incident that escalated to racist language in a parking lot over the weekend.

Attorney Nawaz Tahir said his father, sister and brother-in-law were standing in the Costco parking lot on Wellington Road South waiting to get into a parking space when they unwittingly blocked another driver trying to get out of the street.

“He didn’t like that,” Tahir told CBC News. “He got out of his vehicle, started yelling at my father and brother-in-law, came to the passenger side where my father was and hit the door windshield, then tried to break the passenger-side windshield wipers, then opened the Passenger door and grabbed my father, whereupon some bystanders and Costco employees intervened. ”

The bystanders and employees were able to de-escalate the situation, although the “verbal tirade” continued. The man said “go back to your country” several times, Rubina Tahir, who was in the car, told CBC News. The witnesses and bystanders said to the man, “You have every right to be here,” and eventually the police were called.

“That statement, said to anyone, is never okay. It’s shocking to hear. What’s the point? Nothing,” said Rubina Tahir.

The man eventually left, but witnesses recorded his license plate and vehicle details. London police say the investigation is “active and ongoing”.

“We take incidents like this seriously and can confirm that the officers are continuing to investigate this matter,” a police spokesman told CBC News.

However, Tahir says the family was notified on Sunday that no charges will be brought against the man. Rubina Tahir called a terrifying incident.

“It was really scary. I was worried about my father and the bystanders,” she said. “I’m very proud of my city, I believe in the community, we do great things in the city of London and I was really surprised that this happened.”

The family is in disbelief, she added. “My father is very proud to be Canadian. He came to this country, we made a lot of memories here.

Tahir’s 75-year-old father is from Pakistan. He came to Canada in the early 1970s and worked as a machine fitter. The incident is particularly appalling given the attack on a Muslim family in London on June 6th. The Afzaal family has been targeted for their beliefs, police said.

“We asked people to be vigilant and help defuse situations like this, and that’s exactly what happened. It was really critical and really important given the anger and poison emanating from this man, “Tahir said, adding that the attack on a Muslim family in London on the 6th is fresh on his mind and that of his family.

“It’s hard to tell whether it was a traffic incident that became racist or a racist one from the start. We don’t know what that person had in mind, ”said Tahir.

Just last week, Tahir was in Toronto speaking to provincial politicians about the importance of passing the Our London Family Act, which was being drafted after the June 6 attack. Among other things, the law would establish an accountability office for hate crimes in the province.

“Too many Muslims in this province who experience hateful attacks and then report them and the charges are dropped or charges are never brought, and that’s a real barrier to being displayed thinking, ‘What’s the point?’ if there is no official reaction from the police, “said NDP MP Peggy Sattler.

Sattler said she was shocked but not entirely surprised by the incident with Tahir’s father.

“We need some systemic change to deal with these systemic problems and the problem of reporting hate crimes is a systemic issue,” she said.

No charges have been brought yet

Tahir is frustrated when the police told him they won’t charge the attacker because his father got out of his car with his fists raised.

“They said that because my father got out of the vehicle and gestured to the man, it negated the charge of assault and made it a consensual fight. That is the issue that I will raise with the police,” said Tahir called.

“In any civilized society, one shouldn’t reach into someone’s car and grab them. It’s wrong, it’s assault, and we should send people a message to be accountable.”

Rubina Tahir said she was disappointed that the assault charges were not brought immediately.

“That shouldn’t happen again,” she said. “We do this by holding the person responsible for the things that have been done. We have to get better as a community.”

Mayor ‘disgusted’ by incident

His father was in good physical condition, said Tahir. “We always like to see our fathers as strong guys, but in terms of age and mobility he rises. He limps, he’s waiting for a double knee replacement, he’s a heart patient.”

London Mayor Ed Holder spoke to Tahir about the incident and said the incident was “shameful”.

“Am I disgusted by this behavior? Of course I am. Who do these idiots think they are?” said Halter.

“You know, you are trying to find light in tragedy and stupidity, and Nawaz agrees. The fact that viewers came to his father’s aid immediately is positive,” said Holder. “You are supposed to go home? You are home. You are in London.”

It is important that the police investigate the incident and take it seriously, he added. “When such hate-related activity occurs, the police jump over it.”

Tahir plans to call the London police on Monday to ask for answers.

“We know that prosecuting hate crimes in Canada is difficult at best. For myself, I want to take responsibility for the attack, ”he said. “Some people have to take a deep breath. Why did a parking lot dispute become ‘go back to your country’?