A mother-of-three who was arrested after she was filmed hurling Islamophobic abuse at a pregnant Muslim woman on a bus has pleaded guilty.
Simone Joseph, 36, was charged with racially and religiously aggravated intentional harassment after she called Hanane Yakoubi an “ISIS b**ch” and told her to “go back to your f***ing country” while travelling with her two-year-old child on a London bus.
The mother-of-three, from Brent, handed herself in after footage of the incident, which was posted to Facebook by Mico Abrigo, went viral, and pleaded guilty to the charge at Hendon Magistrates Court yesterday.
“She apologises for the hurt and distress caused by her behaviour and recognises it was unacceptable,” said Joseph’s solicitor, Tony Meisels.
“She is appalled by what happened that and is remorseful and wants to convey her regret for what happened and apologise to the victim.”
Ms Yakoubi, who Joseph threatened to “kick in the uterus”, said she was struggling to sleep following the incident, and added that “I cannot take medication because I am pregnant… I do not know how to ask for help because I do not speak the language.”
Joseph will be sentenced on 13 November.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
