Student who called pregnant woman in niqab a 'terrorist' was 'scared'
A university student who launched a racist tirade against a Muslim couple that was filmed and gained widespread attention has pleaded guilty to intimidation.
A visibly aggressive Suong Nguyen was filmed banging on a car window in a Macquaire University car park in Sydney’s northwest on January 20, screaming a series of abusive slurs at Ramsey Al Mudi and his wife Sema.
“Who are you, why you got a mask, terrorist, you have gun?” an unrelenting Nguyen shouted at the couple.
Mr Ramsey then exited his car in an effort to protect his pregnant wife, who was wearing niqab, a full-face Islamic veil.
He attempted to appease the frantic woman, telling his distressed wife to lock the car door.
Ironically, as Nguyen left court today, she tried to conceal her own identity.
In court on Monday, Nguyen’s lawyer, Andrew Tient said his client was scared of the couple sitting in the car.
"She was afraid of them and completely overreacted,” he said.
“She's sorry for what happened. She understands the distress this has caused.”
The court heard Nguyen’s life has fallen apart since the abusive outburst.
She was once a full time student but is now banned from even being on the campus, meaning her studies have been put on hold.
Nguyen was sentenced to a two-year bond and fined $750 for intimidation, while she will also have to pay more than $800 for the damage she caused to the couple’s car.
