Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, was indicted on hate crime charges, including second and third-degree assault, for pepper spraying an Uber driver in an anti-Muslim attack on the Upper East Side of New York City in July. The incident occurred after the driver began praying in Arabic at a red light, prompting Guilbeault to spray him in the face with pepper spray. The driver experienced pain and called 911, leading to Guilbeault’s arrest at the scene. The incident, caught on dash camera footage, showed Guilbeault lunging forward and attacking the driver. The victim, identified as Shohel Mahmud, believed the attack was racially motivated and feared for his safety, resulting in him working fewer hours. CAIR-NY, the largest Muslim civil rights group in the U.S., welcomed the indictment of Guilbeault and highlighted a recent surge in anti-Muslim incidents across the country. They noted a 69% increase in bias complaints documented in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, CAIR received the highest number of complaints in its 30-year history in 2023, with nearly half reported in the three months following the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza. The organization condemned the attack and emphasized the importance of holding those who carry out bias-motivated attacks accountable.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com