Unprovoked Attack on Muslim Uber Driver
Prosecutors charged 23-year-old Jennifer Guilbeault with multiple counts, including second and third-degree assault as a hate crime. The charges stem from an unprovoked attack on a 45-year-old Muslim Uber driver in New York City.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office issued an indictment with charges of second-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault as a hate crime, and second-degree aggravated harassment. The incident took place on the Upper East Side in July.
According to the district attorney’s office, the attack happened around 12:15 a.m. on July 31. The driver was completing a ride for Guilbeault and another passenger seated in the back. While stopped at a red light, the driver began praying in Arabic. At that moment, Guilbeault allegedly lunged at him and pepper sprayed him in the face.
The driver experienced burning, redness, and pain from the pepper spray. He called 911 shortly after the assault. Police arrested Guilbeault at the scene.
Response from Authorities and Victim
WPIX, a local TV station, reported that Guilbeault was arraigned on charges of assault and hate crime. However, she denied that her attack was racially motivated. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the attack, stating, “As alleged, Jennifer Guilbeault senselessly assaulted a Muslim Uber driver while he was just doing his job. The victim is a hardworking New Yorker who should not face this type of hate because of his identity.”
The Uber driver, identified as Shohel Mahmud, said he believed the attack was racially motivated. He also shared that he has worked fewer hours since the attack due to safety concerns. Dash camera footage captured Guilbeault lunging at Mahmud and spraying him with pepper spray. The footage also shows her grabbing his arm as he tried to push her away. Mahmud initially exited the vehicle in distress but later returned to park the car. Another passenger reportedly intervened during the altercation.
When questioned about her actions, Guilbeault allegedly responded, “he’s brown,” according to the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY).
CAIR-NY’s Call for Accountability
CAIR-NY welcomed the indictment, with Executive Director Afaf Nasher stressing the need to hold individuals accountable for bias-driven attacks. Nasher highlighted a troubling rise in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide. CAIR documented 4,951 bias complaints from January to June of this year, marking a 69% increase from the same period in 2023.
Earlier, CAIR reported its highest number of complaints in its 30-year history, with 8,061 cases documented in 2023. Nearly half of those incidents occurred in the last three months, following heightened violence in Israel and Gaza. Nasher’s statement emphasized the critical need for justice and protection against rising hate-fueled violence.
