Racist spits at Muslim on train

Amal —

Assalamu 'alaykum,

[size=18][b]Racist spits at Muslim on train[/b][/size]

A racist football thug who spat at a Muslim and abused her as she travelled home from a service for the July 7 bombing victims was jailed for 21 months yesterday.

Charles Adams, 23, of Colindale, called the white Muslim convert in a burkha a 'Muslim slag' and said her four year-old son, who was with her, would be the 'next suicide bomber' in the 20 minute ordeal on a train.

His father Mark Adams, 50, and brother Mark Adams, 26, joined in the abuse, telling her to 'shut the fuck up' and that she should 'go back to her own country'.

Victim Michelle Idrees, of Luton, had attended a July 7th bombings ceremony in Hyde Park in August 2005 with her four children aged between four and eleven, a nephew and some friends.

Meanwhile, father and son football louts the Adams had spent the afternoon in the pub drinking after watching Arsenal play at Highbury stadium in the first game of the season.

Aisha Khan, prosecuting, told Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court that the Idrees family boarded a Thameslink train at King's Cross station, and found seating near a toilet.

She said: "Charles Adams walked past the group and said 'Terrorist bomber, bomber terrorist'.

"In response, she stood up and said 'Why are you calling us terrorists?' An argument then followed.

"She didn't wish to put up with the abuse in front of her children. Other witnesses described her protective stance before her children.

"It was then that Charles Adams called her a Muslim slag'.

"He then turned to her four year-old son, who was sitting next to her, and said 'That's the next suicide bomber'.

"Mark Adams junior then became involved, he told his brother to leave it, and then told Michelle Idrees to 'Shut up, shut up, bitch'.

"Charles Adams then came towards Michelle Idrees, he appeared very fired up. Mark Adams junior was holding his brother back and it was at this point that Charles leaned across his brother and spat in the face of Michelle Idrees.

"She described feeling quite degraded.

"Later on in the incident Mark Adams senior became involved. He approached Michelle Idrees and said 'Why are you dressed like a Paki if you don't want these things done to you?

"'I can't take my daughter on the train to see a football match or to the West End because of people like you. Why don't you go back to your own country?'"

The ordeal lasted 20 minutes before Mrs Idrees notified the train conductor and the train was stopped at West Hampstead station while police arrived.

Ms Khan added: "A witnesses described it as the worst scene of violent abuse he had seen in his life."

Mr Justice Calvert-Smith described the attack as a 'long, terrifying and humiliating experience'. He added: "It's undoubtedly the case that supporters of football who drink alcohol are much more likely to lose their inhibitions and behave like you three did on this day.

"Everybody who lived in London in August 2005 was still affected by the events of the 21st July and before that, the dreadful experience of the 7th July, but that is no excuse whatsoever for your behaviour."

Mr Justice Calvert-Smith jailed Charles Adams for a total of 21 months for racially aggravated common assault and affray.

Adams, a window cleaner and father of one, with another child due in three months, had previously been jailed for attacking a man with a golf club and leaving him with 33 stitches to the head. His father Mark Adams was given a 30 week prison term suspended for 12 months for racially aggravated threatening and abusive behaviour.

Mark Adams junior was ordered to pay £250 compensation to the victim, £400 court costs and do 100 hours community service for public harassment

[url=http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=TR2331359L&news_headline=racis…]

Forum

Truth's_Razors — Fri, 21 May 2010 - 14:17

Interestingly it seems that no one considers to ask what the other people in the carriage were doing. Of course people don't want to be involved because of the trouble they'll get themselves but if someone had said something it would have helped.

I think that we need to stand up and speak against moronic behaviour like this. It isn't nice and if it were us in Michelle Idrees' shoes, surely we too would wish that someone would attempt to defend us.

Hajjar — Thu, 20 May 2010 - 23:02

Assalamu Alaikum,

like it or not drinking to the point of not being able to stand or slurring speech is a part of British culture. Call it low class British culture, scallys, chavs whatever they still form part of the British culture, and to an extent stereotypes do ring true. Drinking till one is legless and football are two such stereotypes, and i detest them. I detest football because it is linked with senseless ppl like those men described above. If they lose a match they will be the sort of ppl out on the hunt to attack the fans of the team who won. If they win they will drink till oblivion.

The judge made a comment about the drink and their actions, which i don't agree with. Drink brings out the worst or best of a person, as in their real traits/feelings. It is not true that they don't know what they are doing or saying they do, it's just they have less control over it.

I don't care what certain annoymous. individuals are saying about this sister, Allah knows best. The story was about the racist attack on her and the children present with her,not her personal life. the man got what he deserved, i'm actually shocked he got sentenced.

Good point truthrazors, if more than one individual had rallied together to support this woman, or at least have mercy for the small children involved i doubt very much it would have gone further. But just one person standing up would have made things worse, in fact that individual would probably have put their life in danger.

I lack faith in my fellow muslims when i'm out and about. I've seen and heard enough to know not even muslim individuals would bat an eyelid if i were attacked. maybe a group of brothers would, but individuals, couples would not. It's not just the fear factor, that's made things worse, it's more so the "selfish" factor, we have it drummed into us everyday live for yourself, work for youself live for the moment, me me me. The time when an army of muslims would go out to defend a womans honour has sadly gone. If it exists i don't see it here.

May Allah reward this sister for her courage and raise her station in Jannah

You — Fri, 21 May 2010 - 19:07

[quote=Truth's_Razors]Interestingly it seems that no one considers to ask what the other people in the carriage were doing. Of course people don't want to be involved because of the trouble they'll get themselves but if someone had said something it would have helped.[/quote]

On the other hand if that person had then been stabbed to death, we could have been saying "what a moron! SHould have minded his own business... people these days, always butting in..."

Truth's_Razors — Fri, 21 May 2010 - 23:13

Personally I wouldn't, I would have said why did the other people not help him. We need to unite as humans, what is wrong with this world, why is everyone out for themselves!

laila — Sun, 23 May 2010 - 16:03

well this story has taught me one thing, keep mouth shut and look down when being racially abused by a group of men, i don't ever want to be spat at, i have an aversion to other people's spit.

You — Sun, 23 May 2010 - 16:19

On the other hand people are more likely to take advantage if they expect no response...

I doubt ther eis a hard and fast solution.

Apart from maybe turning ona voice recorder on yor phone, but that could turn violent.

laila — Sun, 23 May 2010 - 16:31

i think i would be way to scared to say anything and plus now i know they can spit on you as well that's made me more determined to stay quiet.

i dont know exactly what the situation here was but i would have moved away and kept moving until i lost them. you see i dont like the odds with children around i would never talk back. if there were no children present and the attackers were a bunch of ladies, then yes i might have responded as the lady did. sometimes you have to assess the damage standing up for yourself can do as opposed to not standing up for yourself.

as for the others on the train well i never expect any help. if i was the standerby then i would have perhaps sneaked off to get an official about 30 seconds into the abuse!

Truth's_Razors — Sun, 23 May 2010 - 18:49

No Way! I would be scared too but isn't that the craziest thing?! People should expect others to help and shouldn't be afraid to stand up for themselves in situations like this - not to cause a fight but to draw a line.
What would the mother have taught her children if she said nothing? That it's ok for people to bully other people? That people should let people walk all over them and people won't stand up and say something? That is total rubbish. The Prophet (saas) was spat at too, he didn't shy away and hide in the corner did he?

laila — Sun, 30 May 2010 - 23:00

remaining quiet for me is the best solution if my children were with me, they are young but they already know it is futile arguing with or standing up to people who's intelligence is challanged, and all racists are mentaly challanged. walk away walk away is what i teach them and i hope to God they always walk away from potentially violent situations. silly people need to be ignored, pitied and sometimes if we can we need to help them. who ever heard of talking back to a raving loon, only a raving loon themselves would do this.