Salsabil, 21, abused on London bus for wearing niqab as Islamophobic hate crimes rise

A 21-year-old woman was verbally abused and threatened on a west London bus on 31 July for wearing a niqab. The incident, captured on video, occurred as she travelled home from central London. Salsabil said the man told her she was not welcome and threatened to remove her veil by force.

Salsabil, who lives in north-west London, said she was subjected to abuse on two consecutive buses. She described the man swearing at her and accusing her of terrorism. He threatened to kill her before another passenger intervened and a physical altercation followed. The bus driver asked the man to leave.

Daily abuse and distrust in police

Salsabil told the BBC she experiences Islamophobic abuse daily in London. She said she is spat at, pushed and verbally harassed so often that she no longer reports incidents to police. She estimated she would spend all her time at a police station if she did.

She said she previously reported an Islamophobic hate crime but found officers dismissive. The experience left her demotivated to approach police again. Salsabil said many women who report such incidents are treated the same way. She said she no longer feels safe on public transport, a change she has noticed over the past year.

Rise in reported hate crimes

Metropolitan Police data shows reported faith-based hate crime in London rose by 25% over the past year. Islamophobic offences specifically increased by 31%. The force said it is committed to tackling all forms of hate crime and is aware of the video of the 31 July incident.

A spokesperson said no community in London should endure intimidation or abuse. The force is attempting to contact Salsabil and urged witnesses to report the incident. London’s victims commissioner, Andrea Simon, said Salsabil’s experience was not a one-off. She expressed concern that visibly Muslim women may feel unable to report abuse due to a lack of confidence in police action.

Transport for London responds

Siwan Hayward, Transport for London’s director of security, policing and enforcement, said she was appalled by the video. She said no one should experience abuse on the network. TfL is investigating the incident and encouraged witnesses to contact police. Both TfL and the Met said they operate a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Muslim hatred.

What happens next

The Metropolitan Police said it is making efforts to contact Salsabil. Witnesses to the 31 July incident are asked to report it to the force. Transport for London is also investigating the incident internally. It is unclear whether Salsabil will make a formal complaint to police.