On a Sydney bus, a 13-year-old girl in hijab and school uniform chose to speak up for a friend — and in doing so became the target of a recorded torrent of Islamophobic abuse from a 50-year-old man. The encounter, brief and brutal, has since moved through police stations, courtrooms, and the attention of elected officials, raising once more the question of what safety means for Muslim children navigating ordinary public life. When bail was denied, the man turned his anger on the judge — a final gesture that seemed to confirm what the court had already decided.
Sydney man denied bail after allegedly calling 13-year-old Muslim girl 'terrorist' on bus
A 13-year-old Muslim schoolgirl was subjected to severe Islamophobic verbal abuse including being called a 'terrorist' and 'immigrant dog' on public transport.
Crime & Justice