Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, was indicted on several charges, including second-degree assault as a hate crime, for pepper spraying an Uber driver in an unprovoked anti-Muslim attack in New York City in July. The incident occurred at 12:15 a.m. on July 31, when Guilbeault sprayed the driver in the face with pepper spray while he was stopped at a red light after praying in Arabic. The driver suffered burning, redness, and pain as a result. Guilbeault was arrested at the scene and denied that the attack was racially motivated. The victim, Shohel Mahmud, believed it was and started working fewer hours out of fear for his safety. Dash camera footage showed Guilbeault lunging and attacking Mahmud in the vehicle.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office charged Guilbeault with several counts, and CAIR-NY welcomed the hate crime charges, highlighting the recent surge in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide. This incident was part of the increase, with 4,951 bias complaints documented by CAIR between January and June this year. The organization also received a record-high number of complaints in 2023, with nearly half being reported in the three months following the violence in Israel and Gaza. CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher thanked law enforcement for sending a clear message that bias-motivated attacks will face consequences. Guilbeault’s case highlights the importance of addressing hate crimes and protecting individuals from discrimination based on their identity.
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