A Toronto mosque has launched a “buddy system” after two alleged assaults on worshippers during Ramadan.
The Toronto Islamic Centre says one incident involved a 13-year-old boy attacked outside the mosque near midnight Saturday.
The centre says the boy was assaulted in front of his parents and siblings as the family of five left after prayers. A second incident followed Sunday, when a worshipper was allegedly punched in the arm while walking home.
What happened outside the toronto islamic centre during ramadan
The centre says both incidents were reported to police. It says officers attended after Saturday’s alleged assault and arrested a suspect at the scene.
Toronto police have not publicly released details of the arrest or any charges. Police told OMNI News they would respond when they have details to share.
It is not yet known whether police are investigating the incidents as hate crimes, according to the centre.
Police hate crime investigations in Toronto are typically guided by evidence of bias, prejudice, or hate, and can affect how offences are documented and prosecuted. The Toronto Police Service outlines how to report hate crimes and hate incidents.
How the mosque’s buddy system works
Leaders at the Toronto Islamic Centre say the new safety plan focuses on worshippers leaving evening prayers. It is meant to help people who feel anxious walking home alone late at night.
“Any worshipper in the evening or late at night who does feel a little bit nervous or anxious about walking home alone will be able to employ our buddy system and we’ll be able to walk with them within that certain radius of the mosque, just so that they don’t feel alone, or if something does happen, they’re not alone,” Shaffni Nalir, the general manager of the Toronto Islamic Centre, told OMNI News.
Organisers did not specify the radius covered or how many volunteers are assigned per night. The centre says the program is now in place.
Any worshipper in the evening or late at night who does feel a little bit nervous or anxious about walking home alone will be able to employ our buddy system and we’ll be able to walk with them within that certain radius of the mosque, just so that they don’t feel alone, or if something does happen, they’re not alone.
What police told worshippers at the mosque
On Wednesday night, police addressed the congregation at the mosque. Officers told worshippers the reports are being taken seriously and urged people to report Islamophobic incidents.
“There are officers dedicated to this area as well. There’s a plan in place at 53 Division where we send officers here every day for visibility,” Const. Ralph Reloza, an officer with the Neighbourhood Community Officer Program, told the congregation.
The centre did not say how long the daily visibility plan will continue. Police did not provide an estimated timeline for updates on the Saturday arrest.
How national muslim advocates are responding
The National Council of Canadian Muslims called the alleged incidents “disturbing” and urged leaders to condemn Islamophobia. The group said it has been in contact with the Toronto Islamic Centre.
“These are truly disturbing incidents that have been increasing across the country this Ramadan and in recent years. We have been in contact with the TIC [Toronto Islamic Centre], which was the target of violent threats just weeks ago,” the NCCM said in a statement.
The centre has faced other reported concerns in recent weeks. Toronto police previously investigated after the mosque received what it described as a “deeply disturbing” threat.
What happens next for safety and reporting in toronto
Community safety plans at places of worship often rely on a mix of police presence and volunteer support. The Toronto Islamic Centre is encouraging worshippers to use the buddy system when leaving late-night prayers.
City officials have also been under pressure to address hate incidents alongside other neighbourhood safety issues. Mayor Olivia Chow has recently focused on enforcement tools in other areas, including housing, in a plan outlined in Chow targets repeat-offender landlords.
For worshippers walking home, late-night conditions can also play a role in perceived safety, including darkness and weather. Toronto’s late-winter patterns are detailed in Toronto Weather in March.
Outside Canada, religious communities have also turned to volunteer escorts and security plans after targeted incidents. Australian libraries, for example, have expanded supervised programming and staff presence during community sessions, according to Free Rhymetime sessions lock in weekly.
Toronto police have not confirmed whether the alleged assaults will be treated as hate crimes. The centre says it will continue offering the buddy system through the Ramadan period.
