Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, shown on video assaulting Shohel Mahmud after he began reciting prayer in Arabic

Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, shown on video assaulting Shohel Mahmud after he began reciting prayer in Arabic

A New York woman who pepper-sprayed a Muslim Uber driver while he was praying has been indicted by the Manhattan district attorney on hate crime charges.

Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, is shown in a surveillance video repeatedly pepper-spraying her Uber driver, Shohel Mahmud. The assault took place in August on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, near the corner of east 65th Street and Lexington Avenue, shortly after Mahmud began reciting a prayer in Arabic.

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Guilbeault’s former employer, the public relations and marketing firm D Pagan Communications, wrote on X it is aware of her actions and “don’t condone this behavior”.

    • Sarmyth@lemmy.world
      112·
      2 months ago

      Ain’t got a problem with Muslims. Got a problem with audibly praying while you’re driving me. Just like I’d have a problem with you having an intimate personal phone call with me in the car.

          • Zess@lemmy.world
            72·
            2 months ago

            I’m sure they’re real torn up that some dumbass on the Internet is disappointed in them 🤣

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
              61·
              2 months ago

              I mean, I don’t think they’re ‘some dumbass,’ I don’t know them well enough, but I’m not especially torn up.

            • Sarmyth@lemmy.world
              17·
              2 months ago

              Some of us actually engage with each other rather frequently because of how small the active user base really is.

                • Sarmyth@lemmy.world
                  12·
                  2 months ago

                  What did I say? I mean I’ve been having lots of engagement with people today. Mostly people pretending I have something against Muslims and then telling me what else I must think based on their imaginary impression of me.

                  • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
                    1·
                    2 months ago

                    What did I say?

                    You said:

                    People just keep trying to imply there’s some bullshit xenophobic message behind me expressing I don’t want people praying around me.

                    Those people are right. You are xenophobic against certain religions and cultures, and demand that people conceal their identities around you. By making this point in defense of a woman who pepper sprayed a man for praying, you’re making it abundantly clear that you think violence is an acceptable response to seeing another person pray. You’ve also suggested that praying is somehow a warning sign of violence, which given the fact that the victim in this story was Muslim, clearly reflects what you think of Muslims and their faith.