An Indiana woman is facing accusations of Islamophobia online after allegedly asking whether Muslims ran the café she was ordering at because she claimed they “scare” her.
The woman shared a video saying that she had visited the locally owned Uptown Cafe in Noblesville. She said she sat down and noticed an employee wearing a hijab. However, instead of referring to it as a hijab, she called it a “habib,” a term that some viewers viewed as offensive and mocking toward Muslims.
The woman said seeing the hijab prompted her to ask the waitress whether Muslims ran the café. She claimed that she got a “bad vibe” when she walked in and added, “Nobody was friendly.” She also said that the other customers did not want to make eye contact with her, even when she smiled at them.
After asking about the café’s ownership, the waitress reportedly told the woman that Muslims did not run the establishment. The woman appeared relieved by the response and then claimed that Muslims “scare her.” The original video was later deleted, but the woman said in it that the waitress told her coworkers about her question regarding whether the owners were Muslim. According to the woman, the manager eventually told her that she was no longer welcome at the café. She also described what allegedly happened as harassment in the post accompanying the video.
An Indiana resident later reshared the video and defended the café, describing its owners and workers as great people while calling the woman a “racist.” As the video gained attention, the Muslim employee who was present at the café also commented on the situation. “Hello, my name is Aisha and I was the muslim in the video that ‘scared her’. I really deeply appreciate your video and and everyone support! I am more than thankful and do not know how to express it by words itself how much this means. Thank you‼!” she wrote. The café has not released a statement about the incident as of now.
Viewers Outraged Over Indiana Woman’s Cafe Video
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers expressed outrage after seeing the video shared by the Indiana woman, particularly over her statement that Muslims “scare her.” The majority of commenters criticized her views and behavior. “Seriously, how [expletive] clueless could this lady be? Jesus Christ,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “She said she felt like something was off; it was her.”
More people criticized the woman, with some also commenting on her pronunciation of the word “hijab.” “Hijab is NOT hard to pronounce,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “‘good, they scare me’ oh ok so she’s just fully racist.” Someone else added, “And she would be the first person to proclaim she is not a racist, bigot, homophobe, or hateful. They never see it.”
The video sparked a broader conversation about how people who express anti-Muslim views can face criticism and backlash online. It also led to discussion about how Muslim employees should not be treated as a threat or harassed because of their religion, with some viewers arguing that people should be judged based on their behavior rather than their faith.
