Australian woman stands up for Muslim couple verbally assaulted on Sydney train

'Got nothing nice to say? don't say anything,' 23-year-old tells bully


Web Desk April 16, 2015

An Australian woman stood up for a Muslim couple who was verbally attacked based on their religion on a train in Sydney.

A passenger began hurling horrible and hurtful insults at a middle-aged man and his wife, when Stacy Eden, 23, decided to step in and defend them.

 


A screen grab of the couple

The woman who attacked the couple said things such as “if I was in their country I would be stoned to death for wearing a dress,” according to Eden.

Eden said she missed her stop and stayed on the train to ensure the safety of the couple, who in turn was very grateful to her.

 



PHOTO COURTESY: STACY EDEN

The Islamophobia Register Australia group issued a statement praising Eden’s actions shortly after the incident was reported on Daily Mail Australia. The group reported that such incidents were fairly common.


A screengrab shows the woman who was bullying the couple

Eden shared a video of the entire incident online, in which she can be heard saying: "She wears it (her hijab) for herself, OK! She wears it because she wants to be modest with her body, not because of people like you who are going to sit there and disrespect her."

"No, you shut your mouth. You've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything, simple," she went on to argue.

The article originally appeared on Daily Mail

COMMENTS (9)

Lolita Guillermo Lolita Guillermo | 8 years ago | Reply I am not surprised with PirG's comment..Indians as he said were a confused country which is so true. It is one of the poorest country with all crimes present and yet with proud people who does nothing to improve themselves but seek protection to whoever can defend and support their needs. Iin every post regarding Muslim faith they are always there, cursing Muslims. Stacy is simply showing how she wants to be respected herself. If only everyone thinks the same way she does, there world would be in peace.
Sana | 8 years ago | Reply @PirG: I completely disagree with your comment about how Islam spread in the subcontinent, and your suggestion to the Muslim couple to give up on their beliefs in a foreign land. Every person has the fundamental right to freely practice their religion, especially in a country like Australia that claims to be secular and purports to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion. Your comment on the beard and the hijab is also very ignorant and hateful. It's comments like these that promote religious divide, instead of promoting religious harmony. Here in the US, for example, Jewish skullcaps, Christian crosses and the hijab are all permitted as forms of religious expression, and guaranteed protection under the constitution, just as it should be. Even orthodox Jews and Christian nuns wear a headcovering of some sort. So why are you trying to single out a Muslim woman for her headdress. Just as a woman is free to wear a mini-skirt in Australia, so should she be allowed to cover herself up if she so wills. Why are you so intent on promoting one form of freedom while repressing the other? I commend Stacy for her brave stance, and I hope you learn religious tolerance from her good example. Please keep your bigotry to yourself and educate yourself before commenting on a religion with a billion followers worldwide.
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