Former Winnipegger assaulted in Toronto mall while wearing niqab
Safira Merriman, who converted to Islam 10 years ago, was elbowed by man last week
A former Winnipegger says she was "singled out" and elbowed by a man in a Toronto mall for wearing a niqab.
Safira Merriman converted to Islam about 10 years ago and started practising in earnest three years ago. Last year, she donned the niqab as an expression of her faith.
"I wanted to be as modest as I possibly could. For me it's a matter of being as close as I can to Allah, to God, and being as spiritual as I can — for me, the more I'm covered the closer I am to him," Merriman said.
Merriman, 30, said she was headed to Shoppers Drug Mart in a Toronto mall last week with her two daughters when she noticed a man in the distance staring at her.
"[His] body language made me uncomfortable," said Merriman. "As I got closer I felt I was in their path so I moved the girls over and myself to the right, and then they stepped into my path again."
Merriman said she made several attempts to move out of the way as the man neared, but the man mirrored her movements.
"He stepped right into my path again and with his left elbow he drove it into my left shoulder. Enough for me to be stunned," she said, adding she responded asking "Was that really necessary? What was the point to that?"
It was clear the aggressive act was intended, Merriman said, adding no one around her did or said anything.
'Why did he hit you?'
The incident confused and upset her daughters, Merriman said.
"My youngest is four, so for her it's more a matter of 'Mommy is upset, I don't necessarily understand why,'" said Merriman. "But my nine year old; she noticed. Her immediate reaction was, 'Why did that happen, mommy? Why did he hit you?'"
Wanting to down-play the incident and console her daughters, she explained to them "sometimes it's just what happens." Merriman reported it to police, who she said are looking over security footage from the mall.
Stop assuming that because someone has their face covered that their intentions are wrong.- Lucienne Chateauneuf
Merriman has never encountered aggression like this before, but she believes as the issue of Muslim women wearing niqabs during citizenship ceremonies gains steam, more Canadians may feel entitled to lash out against Muslims.
"I feel that the more it is debated, the more prominent it is in talks, the more people feel they have the right to do or say something to someone or toward someone who is wearing one," said Merriman.
Merriman chose to wear the niqab because she said it makes her feel closer to God. While it was an adjustment for some of her family, Merriman said they've since embraced her decision.
"Once the initial adjustment was over it didn't take them long — they are all very accepting of it," said Merriman. "They support me."
'Political foothold'
"I am still scared that there will be repercussions, because now it seems like everyone is all over the story, and it's the story about a person being hurt in the presence of her children," said Chateauneuf. "Why someone would hurt a parent in front of their babies, grand-babies; it hurts, it's scary."
Chateauneuf said she worries her daughter's story will be manipulated by people on the campaign trail for political reasons.
"Whether it is meant to or not someone will grab hold of that story and turn it into a political foothold," she said, adding she hopes Canadians stand up to discriminatory views and acts like those experienced by her daughter.
"Stop assuming that because someone has their face covered that their intentions are wrong," she said. "You don't need to see their face entirely. Look at their eyes, get to know their heart, look at what's underneath the veil, underneath the scarf, underneath the hat.
"There [are] people who are unveiled who are just as bad as those who may be feared because they are veiled."