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Original poster

Speakers Corner: Woman attacked with a knife.

94 replies

Childrenofthestones · 26/07/2021 06:44

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57965251

A woman has been slashed with a knife at Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park, police have said.
The 39-year-old was taken to hospital after the attack on Sunday afternoon at the site, where people gather for public speeches and debates.
The Metropolitan Police said she received a minor slash injury to the head, which was not life-threatening.
Footage shared on social media shows someone dressed in black approaching a woman wearing a Charlie Hebdo T-shirt.

OP posts:
Tesla73 · 26/07/2021 15:31

Brendan O Neill writes on this here

www.spiked-online.com/2021/07/26/you-can-be-stabbed-for-criticising-islam/

Just like the silence from the woke brigade on the appalling treatment of JKR this needs to be called out loudly every time

NewlyGranny · 26/07/2021 13:05

Yes, if you want an example of stunning and brave, she is it. How terrifying. I hope she makes a full recovery and I hope when she returns to speak her mind, she has a phalanx of friends with her.

But as a PP said, funny how this is not one of those stories where you wonder if the woman involved has not always "identified" as a woman.

KittenKong · 26/07/2021 11:52

I’m hoping that because so many people will have had their phones out to film the speakers, the culprit will be picked up very quickly.

Absolutely shocking though - I don’t go there often (usually just walking through) and it rarely feels unsafe or particularly controversial (usually just odd types preaching about religion or cats).

ArabellaScott · 26/07/2021 11:52

Sorry, Floral, yes, I should have said.

Keepemguessing · 26/07/2021 11:46

Now she is stunning and brave. I hope she recovers well.

Original poster
Childrenofthestones · 26/07/2021 11:19

Looking again at the video and where he slashed her she was lucky. He could easily have been going for her eye.

OP posts:
FloralBunting · 26/07/2021 11:18

Just a warning, that video has the footage of Hatun being assaulted repeated a number of times in quite a distressing way. I wouldn't watch it beyond the first clip of her being struck by the man if you'd be upset by seeing a woman attacked interspersed with jokey puns.

Original poster
Childrenofthestones · 26/07/2021 11:14

Online there are videos and stills of the attack and Hatan lying on the ground, passed out with her face streaming with blood. It is a very striking image of violence against women.
The BBC decide to illustrate the story with a standard pleasant image of the cafe at speakers corner and the Guardian with a generic picture of people listening to a speaker on a stepladder.🤔

OP posts:
ArabellaScott · 26/07/2021 10:52

This has happened before. I know nothing about who this person is who has made the video, btw, just sharing as it contains footage of Hatun Tash being attacked at Speaker's corner last year.

ArabellaScott · 26/07/2021 10:50

This is appalling. Hope Hatun is okay and safe and that the police will deal with this appropriately.

ofwarren · 26/07/2021 09:18

@thinkingaboutLangCleg

Inevitable, given the constant barrage of anti-women abuse on social media and misogynist propaganda in the newspapers we used to read. I wonder if there was also a religious element in the sttack, as she’s a Charlie Hebdo supporter?
The woman who was stabbed is Hatun Tash. She's an ex Muslim turned Christian.
NonnyMouse1337 · 26/07/2021 09:15

I wonder if there was also a religious element in the sttack, as she’s a Charlie Hebdo supporter?

It's possible, although too early to tell at this stage. As I understand it, the woman attacked is an ex-muslim turned Christian. I don't know anything about her but she seems to be an outspoken critic of Islam. Many ex-muslims do get death threats and other kinds of intimidation. So it wouldn't necessarily be surprising if there was a connection to her attack.

HollowTalk · 26/07/2021 09:02

Isn't it odd that we immediately know this IS a woman?

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 26/07/2021 08:55

Inevitable, given the constant barrage of anti-women abuse on social media and misogynist propaganda in the newspapers we used to read. I wonder if there was also a religious element in the sttack, as she’s a Charlie Hebdo supporter?

AlfonsoTheMango · 26/07/2021 08:44

That poor woman.

ScreamingMeMe · 26/07/2021 08:31

How awful.

NonnyMouse1337 · 26/07/2021 08:19

How awful! Good to hear her injury wasn't life threatening but must have felt so scary at the time. Absolutely appalling the sort of violent reaction women get for speaking their minds.

littlebilliie · 26/07/2021 07:11

@NewlyGranny

That is the ultimate "Shut up!" I suppose. People trying to silence women's voices wherever and whenever they are being heard.

Never mind, the police will surely be telling us it's an "isolated incident" shortly, and it will be put in a box with all the other isolated incidents. No risk to the general public at all unless you're a woman and open your mouth to say anything.

I was just thinking that
NewlyGranny · 26/07/2021 07:06

That is the ultimate "Shut up!" I suppose. People trying to silence women's voices wherever and whenever they are being heard.

Never mind, the police will surely be telling us it's an "isolated incident" shortly, and it will be put in a box with all the other isolated incidents. No risk to the general public at all unless you're a woman and open your mouth to say anything.