Threats and harassment against hijab-wearing Muslim women have reportedly become a regular part of daily life in the United Kingdom.
One 21-year-old Muslim woman described facing repeated abuse while travelling on buses and moving around public spaces. She said incidents involving spitting, pulling and pushing had become so common that she had learned to endure them.
According to her account, reporting every incident would consume much of her time. Therefore, she said many women chose to tolerate such behaviour rather than repeatedly approach the police.
Muslim Woman Describes Abuse Over Hijab
The woman recalled one particularly distressing incident while waiting at a bus stop. She said a man verbally abused her because of her hijab and clothing.
According to her account, the man objected to her wearing a veil and told her that such clothing was unacceptable. He allegedly said, “This is not Islam, it is terrorism,” before threatening to remove her veil himself.
The situation reportedly became more serious after the woman boarded a bus. She said the man continued threatening her and eventually threatened to kill her.
However, another passenger intervened during the incident. The bus driver then removed the threatening individual from the vehicle.
The woman said she believed she could have suffered serious injuries without the passenger’s intervention. She also expressed gratitude to the passenger for stepping in when she needed help.
‘Almost Every Day’ Incidents
The woman said the incident was not an isolated experience. Instead, she described similar situations as something she encountered almost every day.
She explained that reporting every incident would mean spending a significant amount of time at police stations. Consequently, she said she and others had become accustomed to enduring some incidents rather than reporting them.
She also described another experience involving an alleged Islamophobic incident that she reported to the Metropolitan Police. However, she claimed the response from a police officer was dismissive.
According to the woman, other Muslim women had also reported Islamophobic incidents to police. She said some had felt discouraged by the way their complaints were handled.
Police Say Hate Abuse Will Not Be Tolerated
The Metropolitan Police said no community in London should have to tolerate abuse or live in fear.
The force also stated that police were prepared to tackle all forms of hate. The statement comes amid concerns raised by Muslim women about harassment linked to their religious identity and appearance.
For women who wear the hijab, the reported incidents can make ordinary activities such as travelling on public transport feel unsafe.
The woman’s account also highlights concerns about whether victims feel confident reporting Islamophobic abuse. She stressed that such behaviour should not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The experiences described underline the importance of addressing harassment while ensuring victims can report incidents without feeling discouraged or ignored.
