A Toronto man assaulted in Quebec City is speaking out following what he believes was a hate-motivated attack.
Supninder Khehra and his friend were visiting Quebec City over the Easter long weekend when a group of men began yelling at them from a parked car. Khehra is Sikh and wears a turban. He told CTV Toronto that the men taunted him for wearing his turban.
“Mostly it was in French, but they were using certain words in English as well,” Khehra said. “But when they were pointing [to my head] they were referencing my turban.”
Khehra and his friend, who were trying to flag a cab at the time, continued walking away. That’s when the men approached Khehra in their car.
The men jumped out of the vehicle and began to attack Khehra. They punched him and threw him to the ground, causing his turban to fall off.
Khehra’s friend videotaped the entire incident.
Remarkably, just as the men were driving away, a police car passed by and intervened.
Khehra told CTV Toronto he sustained injuries to his face, hands and back. He said that the attack has caused him emotional trauma, but that he doesn’t fear the men who attacked him.
“There are certain bad elements, like [the attackers], but I am still proud to live in Canada,” Khehra said.
He is currently recovering back home in Toronto.
Quebec City police arrested two men in connection with the attack. One man has since been released. The other man faces charges of assaulting a citizen and threatening a police officer. Police said the investigation is ongoing and there may be additional charges laid.
