The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has expressed deep concern over an attack on Sheikh Ibrahim, the imam of the BCMA mosque in Victoria, British Columbia. According to a statement released on Saturday, the incident occurred Thursday evening when an unidentified man forcibly opened the imam’s car door after prayers and assaulted him while shouting anti-Muslim remarks and telling him to “go back to your country.”

NCCM described the attack as Islamophobic and called it completely unacceptable, emphasizing that it reflects a worrying rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in society. The organization said it is coordinating with authorities to ensure the imam’s safety and urged a thorough investigation to hold the perpetrator accountable. NCCM also called on Canada’s political and social leaders to publicly condemn the attack and take effective measures against hate crimes.

The statement further urged law enforcement to conduct a full and impartial investigation to determine whether the incident qualifies as a hate crime. Details about Sheikh Ibrahim’s current condition or any formal charges against the attacker have not yet been released.