Man Pulled Up Hijab of a Muslim Woman on a New Mexico Bound Flight
It seems that the rise of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has encouraged many US citizens to express their hatred towards other religious beliefs. The story of Muslim women in the US suggests the myth as true.
Gill Parker Payne, the 37-year-old man from North Carolina has been found guilty in the case of ripping off the hijab of a Muslim woman inside a Southwest Airlines flight, last year.
On Friday, May 20, a New Mexico federal court pleaded the man guilty for forcibly disturbing the women from practicing her religious beliefs. In the court, Payne admitted that he was on the Albuquerque, New Mexico-bound flight on December 11, 2015, and noticed the women in hijab sitting within a short distance.
While talking in the federal court, Payne confessed that he was aware of the significance of hijab, but walked towards the woman and stood next to her and said “Take it off! This is America!” before ripping off the hijab from her face.
According to the prosecutor, the woman, who has been identified only as K. A. felt humiliated and immediately pulled it down on her face.
In a statement, the head of the Civil Rights Division at the US Department of Justice, Vanita Gupta said that it is not about the faith of any individual, as All Americans can enjoy the right to practice their religious beliefs that are free from discrimination and violence.
In her statement, she also said that applying force or creating obstacles against any individual just because of his or her religion will be considered as a violation of the fundamental values of the US. She added that the Civil Right Division of the country will continue to be strict in ensuring religious freedom for all citizens of the United States.
In his plea agreement, Payne appealed for home detention and his attorney, Amber Fayerberg has confirmed that the court has approved the agreement on Friday, May 20. However, the duration and conditions of his probation will be determined by a hearing, which will be scheduled later.
The attorney also said that Mr. Payne has admitted all his deeds, for which he held himself responsible and expressed sorry for them.
The incident on the New Mexico-bound flight took place just three days after the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump urged Americans to impose a ban on Muslims entering the country.
The anti-Muslim sentiment is in the surge in the US. A report published by Georgetown University suggested that the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the US was highest in 2015 since 2001, as a large number of American Muslims were the subject of harassment, discrimination, and violence in 2015.
