'Geordie Angels' thanked for defending Muslim sisters
Passengers rallied to the rescue of Ruhi Rehman and her sister after man shouted abuse on train
A Muslim woman from Newcastle has thanked fellow train passengers for rallying to her rescue when a man shouted abuse at her and her sister.
Ruhi Rehman, 23, said she had been travelling on Newcastle's Metro transit system to Whitley Bay on Saturday afternoon when a man came over and told her to get out of her seat because it was "his country".
When other passengers began to intervene, he even suggested that she might "bomb the train".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Rehman said she was shocked at first because she didn't know what was happening but, before she could respond, the women beside her were standing up to the man.
One witness said the offender was "quite intimidating and was screaming in a really violent way", but other people jumped to Rehman's defence and made it clear they would not stand for his type of behaviour.
According to the Evening Chronicle, a group of men demanded the man leave the Metro at the next station and the carriage erupted into applause when he left.
Rehman thanked the passengers for turning "something so negative into something so positive" and described them as "angels" for defending her and her sister.
"We came as one unity, stood up against what is wrong. I was so overwhelmed and still am with all your support," she said. "Geordies are truly the best! So much love and support."
Metro operator DB Regio Tyne and Wear has urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the police. A spokeswoman added: "The safety of our passengers is paramount. I can assure customers that incidents of this nature are rare on Metro and they will not be tolerated.
"A police investigation into this matter is now underway and we will work with them to help trace those responsible," she said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How safe are cruise ships in storms?
The Explainer The vessels are always prepared
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
What message is Trump sending with his Cabinet picks?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION By nominating high-profile loyalists like Matt Gaetz and RFK Jr., is Trump serious about creating a functioning Cabinet, or does he have a different plan in mind?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shooting
Speed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
By The Week Staff Published
-
Texas school shooting: parents turn anger on police
Speed Read Officers had to be urged to enter building where gunman killed 21 people
By The Week Staff Published
-
DJ Tim Westwood denies multiple sexual misconduct allegations
Speed Read At least seven women accuse the radio and TV presenter of predatory behaviour dating back three decades
By The Week Staff Published
-
What happened to Katie Kenyon?
Speed Read Man charged as police search for missing 33-year-old last seen getting into van
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Brooklyn subway shooting: exploring New York’s ‘steep decline in law and order’
Speed Read Last week, a gunman set off smoke bombs and opened fire on a rush-hour train in the city
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
How the Capitol attack investigation is splitting the Republicans
Speed Read Vote to censure two Republican representatives has revealed deep divisions within party
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is sentencing a Nazi sympathiser to read Shakespeare an appropriate punishment?
Speed Read Judge seemed to think introducing student ‘to high culture’ would ‘magically make him a better person’ said The Daily Telegraph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sarah Everard’s murder: a national reckoning?
Speed Read Wayne Couzen’s guilty plea doesn’t ‘tidy away the reality of sexual violence’
By The Week Staff Last updated