Woman faces assault charge after demonstrator's hijab pulled off

Ottawa police say a 74-year-old Ottawa woman is facing assault, harassment and mischief charges for allegedly removing someone's hijab and making lewd gestures during a demonstration last week.

In a news release, police said it happened at city hall around 5:30 p.m. on May 14.

The accused, whom police did not name, has been charged with one count each of assault, mischief and criminal harassment specifically, engaging in threatening conduct.

The charges are considered hate-related, which could meanharsher penaltiesif there's a conviction.

Ottawa police declined to say whether the alleged incident that led to the chargesis related to a video taken outside an Israel Independence Day ceremony and proteston the same date and at the same location, over concerns it could identify the victim.

Hayfa Abdelkhaleqtold CBCshe filed a police report and was in contact with the hate and bias unit after her hijab was pulled off.

She confirmed she's the woman in the video, in which a person gestures at the camera with their middle fingerbefore pulling offAbdelkhaleq's hijab.