A Christian man living in Montreal’s Saint-Laurent borough, originally from Eastern Europe, claims he was attacked and threatened because he “looks” Muslim. Felician Farcane was allegedly punched in the face by a teenager who was part of a large group of people outside his home, resulting in an injury to his jaw that required scans at a medical clinic. Farcane said he was surrounded by about 20 people and was shocked when he was told that he was going to be killed because he was Muslim, despite being Christian. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over parking with a neighbour earlier that morning, which escalated into the attack in the evening while Farcane was getting into his car to pick up his daughter.
Farcane expressed his disbelief that a parking spot could lead to such a violent confrontation, emphasizing that it is not worth threatening anyone’s life over such a trivial issue. The executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), Fo Niemi, highlighted an increase in social tensions in Montreal and stressed the importance of initiatives like hate crime prevention to promote harmony and respect. Niemi emphasized the need to educate people about hate crimes, the laws surrounding them, and the importance of avoiding any acts of hatred, whether verbal or physical. While attempting to speak with the neighbours involved in the incident, Global News was informed of a family death and the need for privacy to grieve.
Despite the family’s circumstances, Farcane reported the incident to the police and expressed his desire for his alleged assailant to be arrested. He hopes that holding the individual accountable will serve as a lesson and prevent future acts of violence towards others. Farcane stressed that no one should live in fear due to their appearance or religious beliefs and desires for justice to be served in his case. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of promoting tolerance and understanding in the community to prevent similar acts of hatred and violence from occurring in the future. The incident highlights the need for increased awareness and action to address discrimination and prejudice in society.
