Canada hate crime: Three teens charged for removing Sikh mans turban, pouring beer on him
In the first incident, which took place around 7.15 pm near Essa Road, the three teenagers allegedly harassed a 26-year-old passenger.
PTC News Desk: Three teenagers have been charged with hate-motivated offences in Canada after allegedly attacking two passengers on public buses in Barrie, Ontario. One of the victims was a 22-year-old Sikh man whose turban was allegedly removed and beer poured on him.
According to Barrie Police, the incidents took place on November 8. The accused, aged 16, 18 and 19, allegedly targeted two men on separate buses within an hour.
In the first incident, which took place around 7.15 pm near Essa Road, the three teenagers allegedly harassed a 26-year-old passenger. Police said they pushed and slapped him while making insulting remarks.
When the passenger approached the bus driver for help, the accused allegedly pushed him off the bus and fled.
In the second incident, around 8.30 pm on Yonge Street, the same group allegedly approached a 22-year-old passenger travelling on another bus. One of the teenagers allegedly removed his turban and poured beer on him.
When the victim tried to call the police, one of the accused allegedly threw his phone to the ground. As he sought help from the bus driver, two teenagers held him while the third punched him in the face and body.
The accused then fled in a taxi. Police tracked down the vehicle within 30 minutes and arrested all three teenagers.
All three have been charged with offences motivated by hatred. Police have not revealed the identities of the accused or the victims. Neither passenger suffered serious injuries. The Hindu Sikh Unity Forum Canada identified the 22-year-old victim as a Sikh.
Ontario Minister condemns attack on Sikh man's turban
Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Graham McGregor condemned the incident, saying that targeting a turban was an attack on a person's religious freedom.
"A turban is a sacred symbol of faith. Targeting it is a blatant attack on someone's dignity and religious freedom," he wrote in a post on X.
The World Sikh Organisation also condemned the attacks and said such incidents should not be treated as isolated cases.
"The growing targeting of Sikhs demands serious attention, accountability and action to ensure Sikh Canadians can live safely," the organisation said in a post on X.