Muslim Women Targeted with Hate Speech While Praying in Georgia Parking Garage
The women said they were observing prayer when a man approached them, directing hateful remarks toward them. Video footage captured the individual making offensive statements, including telling them to “go back to your country” and questioning their faith, saying, “You’re worshipping a false God.”
“I was really just shocked, honestly. I was shaken up, I wasn’t expecting anything,” one of the women said, Atlanta News First reported on Wednesday.
The women had set up a prayer rug in an unoccupied parking space, taking a moment to pray before continuing their Eid al-Fitr celebrations at Avalon, a popular shopping and dining area. They said the man initially walked past them, cursing, before getting into his Tesla Cybertruck and continuing his verbal attack.
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One of the women explained, “First thing I thought was either I’m going to get shot right now or I’m going to get run over. I was scared, and my heart dropped.” She added that they attempted to leave the situation peacefully.
The incident, which lasted approximately three minutes, has drawn attention from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Georgia, whose Executive Director Azka Mahmood condemned the harassment. “We are really calling for the greater society to stand with us. This is not who we are,” she said.
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The Alpharetta Police Department issued a statement calling the remarks “disgusting” but concluded that no crime had been committed, citing First Amendment protections.
According to CAIR, anti-Muslim hate incidents have risen by 7.4% in the past year. The organization urges Muslim women to remain vigilant and report any threats to law enforcement.
Source: Agencies
