London police have decided not to press charges against a man involved in an altercation with a woman wearing a hijab near Western University, where he told her she didn’t belong in Canada.
The incident was recorded and widely shared on social media, prompting backlash from groups like the National Council of Canadian Muslims.
“A hate crime involves a criminal offence where evidence indicates the act was motivated in whole or in part, again by bias, prejudice or hate towards an identifiable group,” said London police Sgt. Sandasha Bough.
“A hate-motivated incident may involve hateful behaviour that does not meet the threshold of a criminal offence but can still have a significant impact on individuals and communities.”
In the video, a man seated in a car on Brescia Lane, just west of Western University campus, argues with a woman who is filming. She mentions to two passers-by that he told her to remove her hijab and stated she doesn’t belong in Canada.
WATCH | Video from earlier this week:
This video of a man confronting a woman for wearing a hijab is circulating social media
A video showing a man’s confrontation with a woman for wearing her hijab has been spreading across social media platforms. The National Council of Canadian Muslims noted that such incidents are commonly reported by individuals throughout the country. The London Police Service mentioned that their hate crime unit is looking into the matter.
“That’s right, I am being racist,” the man says on the video.
attempted to contact the man in the video but has not received a response.
Hate-motivated incidents are investigated and recorded by police, and Bough encouraged community members to report any incidents or crimes driven by hate.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe and accepted in our community,” she said.
“We want community members to know that their concerns will be taken seriously and that we are committed to supporting victims, investigating criminal offences, and fostering a safe and inclusive community for all.”
Earlier this week, another individual faced charges after drawing a swastika on parking lot pavement downtown.
In 2025, there were 70 reported hate-motivated crimes logged by London police alongside 98 additional hate-motivated incidents according to statistics.
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