Newcastle Man Charged For Verbally Abusing Muslim Women

A 27-year-old Australian was charged for verbally abusing a couple of Muslim women in Newcastle. The couple of women, one of whom was wearing a headscarf, were reportedly driving through Smith Street about 7:00pm (AEST) when the man approached their car. The mother and the daughter were verbally abused in reference to their religion last Monday night. The man also threatened them, according to police reports. According to Chief Inspector Dean Olsen, the man made "derogatory statements about their religion." Sky News reported quoted Olsen saying that the man "struck the side view mirror and then continued with a verbal tirade." While the women were able to drive further, the man allegedly continued to abuse them verbally as he followed the women. The women stopped the car to fix the damaged car mirror.

According to police reports, several people intervened during the verbal abuse. However, the man was hostile to them. He allegedly punched one of those who tried to stop him and stole a mobile phone before running away. The man was eventually arrested and charged with two counts of intimidation, two counts of larceny, one count of assault and one count of malicious damage. Both the women were sitting in the front seats as the daughter was driving the car and the mother was sitting beside her.

Yahoo News quoted Olsen confirming the intervention by several people. "It was at this time that several members of the public got involved and tried to stop this man doing what he's doing. He's turned on them and made a few threats and assaulted at least one of those people." Olsen said, "He was apprehended by the members of the public and they retrieved their property, but he fled the scene again. A short time later police arrived and effected the arrest." The man who had been punched by the suspect was, however, not seriously hurt.

According to Olsen, the mother and the daughter were "left shaken" after the incident. However, he said that the women had not been physically harmed by the man. He also appreciated the people who had tried to intervene. He said that it was quite comforting for a policeman to know that the society was "such a good one" that people would prevent those who would try to do such things to others.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au