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Muslim women removing headscarves in wake of Trump win

Reports of attacks on Muslims following Trump victory lead some women to decide not to wear hijabs in public
A Muslim woman holds a poster during a protest against Donald Trump on 20 December 2015 in New York. (AFP)

In two months, Donald Trump will officially be sworn in as the new president of the United States. But it hasn't been two days since the election results and American Muslims and minorites are already feeling the aftermath on the streets.

Trump's rhetoric against Muslims and other minorities during the campaign has led to accusations that he is encouraging racial abuse. 

Muslim women were most affected with many taking to social media to report the encounters they faced with some even being warned by family members not to wear the headscarf when going out. 

https://twitter.com/harryonmen/status/796250292215873536
https://twitter.com/Mcbrownie/status/796227942422614016
https://twitter.com/claudiafavelaa/status/796350018219347968

Farris Barakat, the brother of Deah Barakat who was murdered with his wife and her sister in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, last year in a suspected hate crime, reported widespread fear among Muslim Americans after the election results. “A lot of people are very afraid,” he told MEE.

The day after Trump's victory, a student in Louisiana was attacked and had her hijab pulled off, according to reports. 

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/796545691598409728
https://twitter.com/blicqer/status/796672218570727424

Another student was robbed in San Diego and reported that her attackers abused her for being a Muslim.

https://twitter.com/merbae_/status/796554630364688385

Some wrote messages of support and solidarity to encourage others not to be cowed into removing their hijabs.

https://twitter.com/noorcheemaa/status/796407284666667012
https://twitter.com/Uselessxhope/status/796342653629513728
https://twitter.com/ginnnach_/status/796230313861120000

This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition.

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