A woman who attacked a driver reading an Arabic prayer with pepper spray has been charged with a hate crime.

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The Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced that a hate crime case has been filed against 23-year-old Jennifer Guilbeault, who sprayed pepper spray on a Muslim Uber driver. The incident occurred on July 31 in New York's Upper East Side.

According to driver Shohel Mahmud, Guilbeault, one of the two female passengers he picked up from Midtown, suddenly sprayed pepper spray while praying in Arabic at a red light. Mahmud was attacked with pepper spray a second time when he got out of the vehicle. The father of three, who lives in Elmhurst, Queens, stated that the attack was carried out solely because of his skin color.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated, "Guilbeault attacked a hardworking New Yorker simply for doing his job because of his identity." In footage shared on social media, the attacker’s friend can be heard asking, "Why did you do this?" and receiving the response, "He's dark-skinned."

Guilbeault's attorney, Michael J. Alber, argued that his client did not act based on discriminatory factors such as race, religion, or national origin. The next hearing of the case will be held on January 13.