GATINEAU, Que.  – Global Affairs Canada says it is “extremely concerned” about allegations that a Senegalese diplomat was arrested and beaten by police in an Ottawa suburb last week.
“What happened was simply unacceptable,” Global Affairs spokeswoman Sabrine Barakat wrote in an email Saturday.
Senegal’s foreign ministry said the diplomat, who works at the West African nation’s embassy in Ottawa, was restrained and attacked at her home in Gatineau, Que., on Aug. 2.
“She was handcuffed and beaten severely, to the point where she had difficulty breathing, which led to her being taken to hospital by ambulance,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday, but was only released on Friday.
The ministry did not immediately provide further details on her condition.
The Gatineau Police Service said in a press release, issued Friday night in response to the Senegalese government’s claims, that officers were called to assist a bailiff who was trying to execute a court order on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the subject of the warrant, identified only as a woman with diplomatic status, was “aggressive and uncooperative.”
They claimed that when the officers tried to explain the procedure, the woman punched a female officer in the face.
Officers then decided to arrest the woman “for the safety of everyone present,” according to the statement.  Police alleged the woman resisted arrest, bit another officer and then fell to the ground, where she was restrained.
The bailiff then executed the court order while the woman was “held in the back of a patrol car under the supervision of a police officer,” the police statement said.  “At no time did the individual report being injured or in pain when questioned.”
Police say they were called back to the same location about an hour and a half after they first arrived by paramedics who treated the woman, but did not elaborate, saying only that about 10 people were present.
The Senegalese government said the charge d’affaires at the Canadian embassy in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so officials could “strongly denounce and strongly condemn this racist and barbaric act.”
A protest note has been sent to the Canadian government, it said.
“The Government of Senegal has requested that an investigation be launched without delay and that charges be brought against the perpetrators of this unacceptable attack, which constitutes a serious affront to the physical integrity and human dignity of the individual, as well as a flagrant violation of the 1961 Convention. Vienna for diplomatic relations,” the ministry said.
Barakat said Canada takes its obligations under the convention — which grants diplomats immunity from any form of detention or arrest — very seriously.
“We are working diligently with the various levels of government involved and look forward to a thorough investigation,” he wrote.  “Minister Joly is in contact with her Senegalese counterpart.  Canada will continue to work fully with Senegal to address this unfortunate situation.”
Gatineau police said they have notified provincial and federal authorities of the incident and have asked the provincial prosecutor’s office to lay charges of assaulting a police officer and obstructing a police officer.  In Quebec, the decision on whether to lay charges is made by the public prosecutor’s office.
The police service said it would not comment further, due to the possibility of legal proceedings, but would cooperate with any inquiries.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 6, 2022.