A Muslim woman was reportedly subjected to a brutal verbal and physical attack after her alleged attacker said “merry Christmas” but she replied “happy holidays”.
Police are investigating reports the man stole the woman’s headscarf after the incident at the Beeliar Village shopping complex in Perth, Australia.
Her headscarf came off during the scuffle and the man ran off with it before dumping it nearby.
Officers say they are looking for a light-skinned man, aged between 25 and 35, around 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build and with short blond hair. He was reportedly wearing blue shorts and a white top.
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The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, told WAtoday: “He yelled, ‘no merry Christmas’, so I said ‘OK’, then he called me a “f****** Muslim c***.
“I asked him what he said and I saw him grab a bottle so I quickly turned away and he threw it at me and it smashed on my shoulder and neck.
“Imagine if I didn’t turn around, it could have cut my face open.”
She also said he hurled sticks and rocks at her.
“I was running into oncoming traffic to get away from this guy because he was threatening to punch me in the face. I have been racially abused in the past because of my religion but this is by far worse“.
Islamaphobia Register Australia president Mariam Veiszadeh said: “I spoke to the victim last night and it’s obviously been very traumatic for her.
“Unfortunately after incidents, it injects a lot of fear into people, so we want the perpetrator caught as quickly as possible.”
READ MORE: Muslim woman forced to the ground, dragged along pavement by her hijab
A Muslim woman was also dragged along the pavement by her hijab in north-east London last week.
Courtesy: The Independent