Individual Pleads Guilty to Islamophobic Assault on Muslim Woman Wearing the Hijab

A North Carolina man admitted on Friday that he ripped off a Muslim woman’s head scarf during a flight to New Mexico last December after saying, “Take it off! This is America!”

Gill Payne, 37, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in New Mexico to one count of using force to intentionally obstruct the woman from freely exercising her religious beliefs, prosecutors said.

“No matter one’s faith, all Americans are entitled to peacefully exercise their religious beliefs free from discrimination and violence,” said Vanita Gupta, head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

An attorney for Payne did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Payne admitted that on a flight last December, he approached the aisle where the Muslim woman was seated shortly before landing in Albuquerque, and stopped next to her seat, Prosecutors said.

Payne then told the woman, a stranger identified in court documents as K.A., to take off her hijab, saying something to the effect of “Take it off! This is America!” prosecutors said.

Payne then grabbed the back of the hijab and “pulled it all the way off,” leaving her head exposed.

“As a result, K.A. felt violated and quickly pulled the hijab back up and covered her head again,” prosecutors said in a statement.

A sentencing hearing for Payne has not yet been set, prosecutors said.

The guilty plea comes in the wake of a number of anti-Muslim incidents in the United States.

Earlier this week, a Muslim advocacy group said a California student was embarrassed and distressed after her name was incorrectly listed as Isis, the abbreviated name of the Islamic militant group.

In late April, a New Jersey school board member resigned after drawing fire over anti-Muslim Facebook posts, including one saying, “America needs to get rid of people like you.”

In the wake of deadly attacks by Islamist militants in Paris and California last year, Donald Trump, now the presumptive Republican White House nominee, called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.

The post ‘This is America’ air traveler says guilty of yanking Muslim’s scarf appeared first on TELL MAMA.

“They’re able to get out there and they have a broader toolkit of skills they can leverage if they are experiencing violence, that they can choose to use, that they can protect themselves or to get out of situations.”

 

 

“They feel like people are staring at them. They feel ashamed… You can be attacked at any point you can be pushed off of, you know, off of a subway ledge. All these different things that go through these young women’s minds, as something that increases their vulnerability and increases their sense of fear.”

 

 

“Even after 9/11 Islamophobia was there but it was on the fringe of society. Now thanks to Donald Trump and Ben Carson and others Islamophobia is firmly in the mainstream where these people who attack Muslims on the local level they view it as almost their patriotic duty based on their this kind of extremist, bigoted rhetoric.”

 

 

“You stand out. And yeah it’s not fair, but it’s the reality and you have to equip yourself to be able to face that.”

 

 

“You just feel this rush of adrenaline in your body and you just want to conquer the world. It’s really empowering.”

The post US Muslim Women Strike Back Against Hate Crimes appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Ruba Rosalina Bukhatwa, known to her teammates as Rose, may become the first Muslim women in Ireland to play competitive rugby in the hijab.

Tallaght Women’s RFC made a request to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) after Bukhatwa had recently joined the club. Within four weeks, the IRFU confirmed that she could play in the hijab under certain conditions: she must ensure that the hijab is secure and tucked into her jersey and wear a scrum cap.

Martina Fitzpatrick, Women’s Development Officer at Tallaght Women’s RFC praised the IRFU’s speedy resolution. She hopes the decision will encourage more women in Ireland to pursue rugby.

The 18-year-old law student at Griffith University was born in Dublin to Libyan parents.

The town of Tallaght, in south Dublin, made headlines in 2014 with the “Hijabs and Hat-tricks” project after FIFA dropped its ban on hijabs. And Diverse City FC was soon born. Alongisde Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI), the project helped Muslim women into football. The women’s team debuted at tournament that same year.

The post IRFU allows Muslim woman to wear hijab in competitive rugby appeared first on Religious Reader.

Merseyside Police reached out to Tell MAMA following a violent and unprovoked assault on a Muslim woman in the Everton area of Merseyside.

The 38-year-old, who wears the hijab and is of Arab descent, had passed a children’s play area on route to a supermarket at around 8pm on February 11. She noticed two white men stood near to the junction of Ullswater Street.

One of the men shouted racist abuse at her which was anti-migrant in nature. The second man then approached the woman, grabbed her hijab and punched her repeatedly in the face. Both men then left the scene.

The vicious assault left the woman with bruising and swelling to her face. Her fractured cheekbone will require surgery to repair. The attack left the woman feeling dazed, hurt and in shock.

Staff from Tell MAMA continue to offer further support to the woman. Merseyside Police released a public appeal and e-fit of one of the suspects on February 19.

Tell MAMA and Merseyside Police have been working together to support the victim. We are pleased that in a case as serious as this she had the confidence to contact the police.

Although physical attacks such as this are somewhat rare, it is essential that they are reported to the Police or Tell MAMA so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

If you have been targeted with anti-Muslim hostility you can call us in confidence on 0800 456 1226 or email us at info@tellmamauk.org.

Anyone with information about the assault can contact Merseyside Police’s SIGMA team on 0151 777 4078 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

The post Merseyside Police investigate unprovoked racist assault on Muslim woman appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Merseyside Police reached out to Tell MAMA following a violent and unprovoked assault on a Muslim woman in the Everton area of Merseyside.

The 38-year-old, who wears the hijab and is of Arab descent, had passed a children’s play area on route to a supermarket at around 8pm on February 11. She noticed two white men stood near to the junction of Ullswater Street.

One of the men shouted racist abuse at her which was anti-migrant in nature. The second man then approached the woman, grabbed her hijab and punched her repeatedly in the face. Both men then left the scene.

The vicious assault left the woman with bruising and swelling to her face. Her fractured cheekbone will require surgery to repair. The attack left the woman feeling dazed, hurt and in shock.

Staff from Tell MAMA continue to offer further support to the woman. Merseyside Police released a public appeal and e-fit of one of the suspects on February 19.

Tell MAMA and Merseyside Police have been working together to support the victim. We are pleased that in a case as serious as this she had the confidence to contact the police.

Although physical attacks such as this are somewhat rare, it is essential that they are reported to the Police or Tell MAMA so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

If you have been targeted with anti-Muslim hostility you can call us in confidence on 0800 456 1226 or email us at info@tellmamauk.org.

Anyone with information about the assault can contact Merseyside Police’s SIGMA team on 0151 777 4078 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

The post Merseyside Police investigate unprovoked racist assault on Muslim woman appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Merseyside Police reached out to Tell MAMA following a violent and unprovoked assault on a Muslim woman in the Everton area of Merseyside.

The 38-year-old, who wears the hijab and is of Arab descent, had passed a children’s play area on route to a supermarket at around 8pm on February 11. She noticed two white men stood near to the junction of Ullswater Street.

One of the men shouted racist abuse at her which was anti-migrant in nature. The second man then approached the woman, grabbed her hijab and punched her repeatedly in the face. Both men then left the scene.

The vicious assault left the woman with bruising and swelling to her face. Her fractured cheekbone will require surgery to repair. The attack left the woman feeling dazed, hurt and in shock.

Staff from Tell MAMA continue to offer further support to the woman. Merseyside Police released a public appeal and e-fit of one of the suspects on February 19.

Tell MAMA and Merseyside Police have been working together to support the victim. We are pleased that in a case as serious as this she had the confidence to contact the police.

Although physical attacks such as this are somewhat rare, it is essential that they are reported to the Police or Tell MAMA so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

If you have been targeted with anti-Muslim hostility you can call us in confidence on 0800 456 1226 or email us at info@tellmamauk.org.

Anyone with information about the assault can contact Merseyside Police’s SIGMA team on 0151 777 4078 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

The post Merseyside Police investigate unprovoked racist assault on Muslim woman appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Merseyside Police reached out to Tell MAMA following a violent and unprovoked assault on a Muslim woman in the Everton area of Merseyside.

The 38-year-old, who wears the hijab and is of Arab descent, had passed a children’s play area on route to a supermarket at around 8pm on February 11. She noticed two white men stood near to the junction of Ullswater Street.

One of the men shouted racist abuse at her which was anti-migrant in nature. The second man then approached the woman, grabbed her hijab and punched her repeatedly in the face. Both men then left the scene.

The vicious assault left the woman with bruising and swelling to her face. Her fractured cheekbone will require surgery to repair. The attack left the woman feeling dazed, hurt and in shock.

Staff from Tell MAMA continue to offer further support to the woman. Merseyside Police released a public appeal and e-fit of one of the suspects on February 19.

Tell MAMA and Merseyside Police have been working together to support the victim. We are pleased that in a case as serious as this she had the confidence to contact the police.

Although physical attacks such as this are somewhat rare, it is essential that they are reported to the Police or Tell MAMA so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

If you have been targeted with anti-Muslim hostility you can call us in confidence on 0800 456 1226 or email us at info@tellmamauk.org.

Anyone with information about the assault can contact Merseyside Police’s SIGMA team on 0151 777 4078 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

The post Merseyside Police investigate unprovoked racist assault on Muslim woman appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A former legal worker walked free from court after a jury cleared her of racial abuse towards Muslim families.

Virginia Agraviador, 53, had screamed ‘I don’t hijab, I am happy with my miniskirt’ and ‘f**k off back to your own country’  at passers-by who wore Islamic clothing as she sat in Kensington Gardens.

A MailOnline article noted how the jury took just 33 minutes to clear Ms Agraviador of racially aggravated abuse.

Hearing the abuse, Delia Ahmed had tried to calm Ms Agraviador; but she allegedly retorted ‘Get out of my f**king face, I don’t hijab, I work for the Mother Theresa, get out, get out’.

As Mrs Ahmed walked off with her husband and two daughters, Ms Agraviador had allegedly hurled a wine bottle in her direction.

The incident happened on August 4 last year. And Ms Agraviador had been rough sleeping prior to the incident. In court, she denied the racist abuse or throwing the wine bottle in the direction of Mrs Ahmed.

Ms Agraviador has three prior convictions for racial abuse, and she had plead guilty to them.

The post Woman accused of anti-Muslim abuse walks free from court appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A former legal worker walked free from court after a jury cleared her of racial abuse towards Muslim families.

Virginia Agraviador, 53, had screamed ‘I don’t hijab, I am happy with my miniskirt’ and ‘f**k off back to your own country’  at passers-by who wore Islamic clothing as she sat in Kensington Gardens.

A MailOnline article noted how the jury took just 33 minutes to clear Ms Agraviador of racially aggravated abuse.

Hearing the abuse, Delia Ahmed had tried to calm Ms Agraviador; but she allegedly retorted ‘Get out of my f**king face, I don’t hijab, I work for the Mother Theresa, get out, get out’.

As Mrs Ahmed walked off with her husband and two daughters, Ms Agraviador had allegedly hurled a wine bottle in her direction.

The incident happened on August 4 last year. And Ms Agraviador had been rough sleeping prior to the incident. In court, she denied the racist abuse or throwing the wine bottle in the direction of Mrs Ahmed.

Ms Agraviador has three prior convictions for racial abuse, and she had plead guilty to them.

The post Woman accused of anti-Muslim abuse walks free from court appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A former legal worker walked free from court after a jury cleared her of racial abuse towards Muslim families.

Virginia Agraviador, 53, had screamed ‘I don’t hijab, I am happy with my miniskirt’ and ‘f**k off back to your own country’  at passers-by who wore Islamic clothing as she sat in Kensington Gardens.

A MailOnline article noted how the jury took just 33 minutes to clear Ms Agraviador of racially aggravated abuse.

Hearing the abuse, Delia Ahmed had tried to calm Ms Agraviador; but she allegedly retorted ‘Get out of my f**king face, I don’t hijab, I work for the Mother Theresa, get out, get out’.

As Mrs Ahmed walked off with her husband and two daughters, Ms Agraviador had allegedly hurled a wine bottle in her direction.

The incident happened on August 4 last year. And Ms Agraviador had been rough sleeping prior to the incident. In court, she denied the racist abuse or throwing the wine bottle in the direction of Mrs Ahmed.

Ms Agraviador has three prior convictions for racial abuse, and she had plead guilty to them.

The post Woman accused of anti-Muslim abuse walks free from court appeared first on TELL MAMA.