The Iranian Canadian Congress is calling for justice in the assault against a Western University student from Iran.

In a statement released Wednesday, the board of directors say they are deeply saddened about the incident and call it “unacceptable and ... a threat to Canada's multicultural society.”

This statement is in response to the attack on Mohammad Sharifi by two men in downtown London that occurred Saturday at 8 p.m.

According to a media report, Sharifi and his girlfriend were sitting outside the Covent Market when they heard two men shouting.

The men approached Sharifi, called him an Arab and told him to go back to his country.

One man punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, Sharifi said. Then both men hit him several times while he was down. He suffered bruising and a concussion.

Blaire Gibson, 24, and Justin Smart, 24, of London are charged with assault. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.

The Iranian Canadian Congress is calling upon the mayor of London, along with city council, London police and the Ontario government “to assure that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to justice immediately.”

They asked the bodies to collaborate with the federal government to implement policies that “address and combat racism and xenophobia not only in the city of London, but in the province of Ontario and in Canada overall.”

In its statement, the congress stresses the importance of co-ordinated efforts between government, law enforcement and civil society to make safe and equal places for people to live and vowed it would continue to pursue this case to ensure justice for Sharifi.