January 28, 2026
The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) expresses grave concern regarding the allegations that a Black defence lawyer, Sudine Riley, was violently handled by Durham Regional Police officers inside the Oshawa courthouse on Friday afternoon. Reported by the Toronto Star, Ms. Riley was allegedly assaulted in a courthouse interview room, her head slammed into a desk, restrained with knees to her back and neck, forcibly handcuffed, dragged to a holding cell in the basement, and suffered injuries including a bleeding head and a swollen eye. It is further alleged that her head scarf was torn and her skirt was displaced during the encounter.
These deeply troubling allegations, if true, represent an unacceptable use of force against a woman engaged in her professional duties as an officer of the court. Lawyers should be able to perform their work without fear of physical violence or intimidation, particularly within a courthouse where safety, dignity, and the rule of law must be upheld for all justice system participants.
CCMW condemns any and all forms of racialized, discriminatory, or excessive use of force by law enforcement officers. Systemic inequities and abuses of police authority have disproportionately harmed Black, Indigenous, racialized, and Muslim communities across Canada. The reported treatment of Ms. Riley, a petite Black woman who wears a head scarf, raises urgent questions about bias and the protection of fundamental rights.
