Sydney racist train rant: Muslims in Australia ‘under attack’

THE Muslim man subjected to a vile racist rant on a Sydney train says he wants to press charges over the incident, which has left his wife too afraid to travel alone.

THE Muslim man who was subjected to a vile racist rant on a Sydney train says he wants to press charges over the incident, which has left his wife too afraid to travel alone on public transport.

Hafeez Ahmed Bhatti and his wife Khalida made global headlines when commuter Stacey Eden stepped in to defend them after a woman started to verbally abuse them across the carriage.

The Pakistani-born couple, who live in Brisbane, want to press charges over the incident, which was filmed by Ms Eden and uploaded to Facebook.

Sickening ... Hafeez Ahmed Bhatti says he wants to press charges over the racist rant.

Mr Bhatti told ABC’s 7.30 the verbal tirade from the racist passenger had left he and his wife — who was abused by the woman for wearing a hijab — traumatised.

“It’s my understanding that Australia is a free country for everyone,” he said.

“If someone who is white can travel easily without concern, why can’t I?”

Taking a stand ... Stacey Eden bravely stepped in when the woman started to verbally abuse the Muslim couple.

Ali Kadri, of the Islamic Council of Queensland, told 7.30 Muslims in Australia were living in a climate of fear.

“It is the worst it has ever been, I think in Queensland at least.” he said. “There is more fear in the Muslim community than there ever was and a feeling of under siege and under attack.”

Ms Eden began recording the incident, which took place on a CityRail train travelling from Town Hall to Sydney Airport around 1.30pm on Wednesday, ten minutes after the woman — whose identity is unknown — began her racist tirade.

She then uploaded the footage to Facebook, where she received widespread praise for defending the couple.

Fear factor ... Ali Kadri, of the Islamic Council of Queensland, said Muslims felt like they were “under siege”.

Mr Bhatti, who also posted on Facebook of his disappointment over the attack, said his wife Khalida was now too scared to travel on the train alone.

“She doesn’t know what happened and she feels very sad about that incident,” he said.

Innocent victims ... the couple with their baby son Muhammad.

Ms Eden told 7.30 she had accepted an offer from Brisbane’s Holland Park mosque, which the couple attend, to fly her to Queensland so thepair could personally thank her for her brave act in standing up for them.

As for the future, Mr Bhatti said he was concerned for his baby son Muhammad the world he will grow up in.

NSW Police have said a formal investigation into the incident is underway.

Originally published as Sydney racist train rant: Muslims in Australia ‘under attack’