Woman Reportedly Stole Student's Hijab And Tried To Choke Her With It

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Rear View Of Woman Wearing Hijab Looking Through Window

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Woman Charged For Stealing Exchange Student’s Hijab & Trying To Choke Her

A 24-year-old college student from Saudi Arabia was attacked while simply waiting for a train near the library in downtown Portland, Oregon. Shortly after 7 p.m. on November 12, she felt a stranger grabbing her hijab from behind, tightening the fabric around her neck.

Jasmine Renee Campbell allegedly tried to choke the Muslim student with her hijab before the victim shoved the attacker away. According to a statement from prosecutors, Campbell went on to rip the woman’s hijab from her head.

A probable cause affidavit goes on to say that Campbell removed all of her clothes except for a leather jacket, started dancing, and proceeded to rub the hijab against her naked body. This is when Campbell allegedly mocked the victim’s religion and made fun of her hijab.

The insanely scary encounter ended in an arrest after witnesses called the police, but the Portland State University exchange student is now afraid to wear her religious garb in public. Prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant on Friday after Campbell failed to appear in court for her arraignment on five misdemeanor charges.

Campbell reportedly told police officers, according to court records, that she wanted to show the victim that she “did not have to be a Muslim” and “religion doesn’t define her.” She also told cops she was “fighting and playing around” and “wanted to be a stripper.”

The victim told police she did not want the hijab back and after the attack, she stopped wearing the religious head covering in public. She’s now opting to cover her hair with a knit cap and a scarf instead as to not draw attention to her faith, according to court documents.

Prosecutors ended up charging Campbell with two bias crime charges, attempted strangulation, harassment and criminal mischief following a grand jury indictment last month.

After not appearing in court, Campbell told KPTV that she missed it because she was seeking treatment for a mental health condition.

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