Muslim woman verbally abused ‘on a daily basis’
YOUTHS ON BUS ALSO TRIED TO SET LIGHT TO NIQAB
A MUSLIM woman who is subjected to abuse on a “daily basis” and almost had her niqab set on fire by youths said she is scared to go out.
Souad Mohammed, 47, lives in the London borough of Westminster, which has the highest number of Islamophobic hate crimes in the capital.
The mum-of-three, who is a community worker, has previously been called an “ISIS bride” and “Osama Bin Laden’s wife” while out in public.
Souad, who was born in Westminster, said: “It’s very unsafe to live here. I get anxiety every time I go out.
“In all the years I’ve worn the niqab as of late it’s been the worst it’s ever been.”
Souad said she was targeted by a group of youths while travelling on a bus.
She said: “Last year I was on the top deck of a bus in Harrow Road and some guys behind me tried to light my niqab with a lighter.
“I heard the clicking of the lighter and realised what was happening. They burnt a bit of it.
“I turned around and said ‘what do you think you are doing?’ They were shocked when I had an English accent.
“They got aggressive and I had to get off the bus.”
On another occasion, she claims a bus passenger called her “Osama Bin Laden’s wife” and accused her of being a suicide bomber.
“When I got on the bus I received a text message. Someone called out from behind and said to the bus driver ‘stop the bus she’s going to detonate’,” she said.
“He was saying ‘you are going to get blown up any time now’ and told people I was Osama Bin Laden’s wife. I had to get off the bus, the driver didn’t do anything.”
Souad said the shocking incident took place on the 70 bus in Bayswater, Westminster, earlier this year.
She has been a victim of racist and verbal abuse numerous times but says she has now stopped reporting incidents to the police as they happen so often.
“If I was to keep on reporting I would have files and files of paperwork,” she added.
She was the first in her family to wear the religious garment, which she says gives her spiritual fulfilment and makes her feel less vulnerable to sexual harassment.
However, she detected a backlash against the veil, in particular after the 7/7 bombings in Edgware Road, Westminster, and other parts of London.