VIDEO: College Student Forced to Remove Hijab
Cincinnati News, FOX19-WXIX TV
The University of Michigan issued a campus safety alert after a Muslim student told investigators as she walked steps away from campus, a man stopped her and demanded she remove her hijab.
The threat left most students, regardless of religious faith, disturbed. The Muslim student said the man also stated that if she refused, he would set her on fire.
She did take off her headscarf before running away in fear.
Osama Siblani of the Arab-American News said he believes what happened in Ann Arbor reflects a larger problem, especially since the recent presidential election.
“I hear this all the time, every day,” Siblani said. “This Islamophobia that has been really uncovered by the presidential race has been brewing for a long, long time.”
It appears others saw the woman running from the man. Witnesses told police he appeared to be drunk.
“He probably was intoxicated with more hate speech than liquor, and that is not an excuse,” Siblani said. “I am very, very happy when I read that police are taking this as ethnic intimidation.”
For now, authorities are urging Muslim students to stay vigilant while students campus-wide hope the threats stop completely.