Victim of Islamophobic attack says women need to stand up to “bullies” who attack them because of their hijab

The Ilford Recorder carries an interview with the Muslim victim who was accosted on Oxford Street by a man who “repeatedly” told her to remove her headscarf before attempting to forcibly remove it himself.

Sophia Darr, 47, who lives in Barkingside in East London, told the local paper she was “left sobbing” after the man approached her shouting at her to remove her headscarf before trying to do it himself.

Ms Darr said that her visible distress did not appear to invite assistance from passers-by despite the busy street she was walking along when the incident happened on the morning of 4 October. She said: “I was shocked someone would do this, but even more shocked no one tried to stop him or ask if I was OK.”

Ms Darr spoke up against “bullies” who attacked Muslim women who veil under some false pretext that they are “oppressed.”

“We need to stand up, they are bullies who think we will be quiet, but I am not oppressed, I decided to wear my scarf. It is my choice,” she said.

Ms Darr emphasised the importance of reporting hate incidents to the police and urged other victims to come forward. “If you let things go, people’s mindset will not change,” she said.

“I will wear my hijab tighter and if anything it has made me more determined to wear it – I’m proud of it, it’s my identity,” she added.

Westminster police have confirmed the incident is being treated as an Islamophobic incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Westminster Police via 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.