Train Passenger Stands Up For Muslim Woman Against Hateful Rant

Antonia Blumberg
Updated

A commuter has been caught on camera defending a fellow passenger from a hateful tirade on a train in Sydney, Australia.

In the shocking video, an elderly woman is seen asking a Muslim woman: “Why are you wearing it [a head scarf] for a man who married a six-year-old girl?”

Shocked, Stacy Eden jumped to the woman’s defense.

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In the clip, Eden is heard telling the woman: “She wears it for herself, she wears it because she wants to be modest with her body okay? Not because of people like you who are going to sit there and disrespect her.”

The woman continues: “Read the newspapers, 148 Christians murdered in Kenya, they’re killing each other in Syria."

Eden responds: “That’s not her doing that, that’s a minority of people not a majority. Have some respect. What’s that got to do with her?”

The woman admits: “Nothing.”

Eden wraps up the argument with some well-need advice: “If you’ve got nothing nice to say, don’t say anything.”

Posted by Stacey Eden on Monday, 5 January 2015

Stacey Eden confronted the woman on a train in Sydney

Speaking to Australia’s ABC News, the 23-year-old said that she saw the woman speaking to a passenger accompanied by her husband and a baby.

Eden explained: "The old lady actually bent over and touched the lady's scarf while she was talking. I didn't think anything of it."

She then realized that the woman was abusing the couple, who remained silent.

Eden said: "The lady next to me was saying things like 'all the people that were dying were because of the Muslims in the world and look what's happening overseas’.”

She said that the woman continued: "Read the newspapers, why are you following this religion for, why do you wear things like that so you can marry a man who's going to go marry a 6-year-old?"

"I was like, 'This isn't right, why are you saying these kinds of things?' She was picking on her for the way she was dressed and that's what really got to me.

"This lady that was sitting across from me wearing a scarf, she was minding her own business, she never said anything out of line, she never even spoke.

"That's why I decided to say something because it just made me really angry and upset."

Eden said she stayed on the train past her stop to ensure that the couple were able to get off the train without further harassment.

On her Facebook page she wrote:

I listened to this woman bad mouth muslims and call the lady sitting opposite me an ISIS supporter because she wore a scarf, then she told me to go join ISIS because i was sticking up for her.

People like this make me sick. People who are so ignorant and disrespectful to other people who were clearly sitting there minding their own business.

People need to stop judging and putting others down over religion! EVERY RELIGION HAS GOOD AND BAD but if you take it back to the foundations, every religion is also built on LOVE. To LOVE one another. The purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticize others.

Hafeez Ahmed Bhatti, the victim's husband, posted a message on Facebook and said: "This video was not made by me. That is what happened to us on a Sydney train, God bless Stacey Eden she supported us".

Eden has since become something of celebrity in Australia and her Facebook page has been inundated with well-wishers.

The Hijab

A hijab is a head covering only. It can be worn many different ways including as a simple wrap around, shown here, or Al Amirah style. Regular clothes that cover the arms, shoulders and legs may be worn with the hijab. Women who wear the hijab are Muhajaba, which means they are wearing it for religious purposes.
A hijab is a head covering only. It can be worn many different ways including as a simple wrap around, shown here, or Al Amirah style. Regular clothes that cover the arms, shoulders and legs may be worn with the hijab. Women who wear the hijab are Muhajaba, which means they are wearing it for religious purposes.

Hijab in Action

Sheila & Abaya

An abaya is a long black, loose fitting cloak that often zips or buttons up the front. The sheila is a rectangular scarf that covers the head. Usually made of light silk material and most often found in black, but can be as simple or elaborate as the wearer so chooses. Generally these garments are part of a region's traditional dress, and are therefore worn for cultural reasons rather than religious purposes.

The Niqab

Often mistaken for a burqa, the niqab fully covers the body, but only partially covers the face, leaving a narrow opening for the eyes. Driving while veiled: now a misdemeanor in France.
Often mistaken for a burqa, the niqab fully covers the body, but only partially covers the face, leaving a narrow opening for the eyes. Driving while veiled: now a misdemeanor in France.

The Batula

The Batula is a face covering generally worn by older women in the Gulf region. This is a style that is slowly being depleted and not carried forward by younger generations.
The Batula is a face covering generally worn by older women in the Gulf region. This is a style that is slowly being depleted and not carried forward by younger generations.

The Burqa

Burqas come in many colors and fully covers the wearer, often there is a net window over the eyes so the wearer can see out, but no one can see in.
Burqas come in many colors and fully covers the wearer, often there is a net window over the eyes so the wearer can see out, but no one can see in.

Burqas & Bicycles

This particular burqa is called the chadri, the light blue color and style is native to Afghanistan.
This particular burqa is called the chadri, the light blue color and style is native to Afghanistan.

Doa Gaun

"Doa gaun" or "dress for praying." This dress slips over the clothing of women in two pieces...the gown and the headscarf. It is very common in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The doa gaun is usually carried with women when they are on the go. They can stop in the nearest Masjid, or suaru (a place for prayer), slip this over the clothing they are wearing, worship and take it off to continue the day.

The Chador

The Chador is more common to Iran. It is a long billowing dress that leaves the face open but covers the wrists and ankles. Chador's in a more plain black color with less decorative embellishments.
The Chador is more common to Iran. It is a long billowing dress that leaves the face open but covers the wrists and ankles. Chador's in a more plain black color with less decorative embellishments.

The Birquini

Fully covering beachwear made of lightweight swimsuit material.
Fully covering beachwear made of lightweight swimsuit material.

Baywatch: Abu Dhabi

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.