An Afghan woman named Yasmin Attai, who had migrated to Canada after the collapse of the former republican government and the Taliban’s return to power, has died in the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec. Canadian police have arrested her 18-year-old son on suspicion of murder, and investigations into the case are ongoing.
Canadian media, citing local police, reported that the 41-year-old woman was attacked on Thursday evening, July 9, at around 9:00 p.m., with a sharp object, believed to have been a knife. She was taken to hospital but later died from the severity of her injuries.
Reports indicate that a young woman, believed to be the victim’s daughter, was also injured in the arm during the incident. Police are investigating the case as an incident of “domestic violence.”
Police have stated that the suspect is the family’s 18-year-old son, who was arrested at the scene. He is accused of killing his mother and injuring his sister, and is scheduled to appear for a first court hearing on the charges on Monday, July 13.
According to police, officers were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports from neighbours about a family dispute. However, authorities have not yet officially released the identities of either the victim or the suspect.
Canadian media, citing sources close to the family, have reported that the victim was Yasmin Attai and that the suspect is her son, Ramesh Attai. It has also been reported that the family immigrated to Canada following the political changes in Afghanistan in 2021.
The motive behind the killing has not yet been officially determined, and police continue to investigate the details of the case. Authorities have not commented on the circumstances that led to the incident.
Meanwhile, some Afghan migrants living in Sherbrooke have shared an account of the incident on social media. According to this unverified account, the son was playing a video game when his mother called him for dinner. It is alleged that after he ignored her, she disconnected the home’s Wi-Fi connection, which reportedly led to an argument and subsequent attack. However, Canadian police have not confirmed this account and have not identified it as part of the official investigation.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
