'Who allowed you to stay in Ireland': Shocking video shows racist encounter by Indian woman in Dublin
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Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsA shocking incident of racial abuse in Dublin has drawn widespread condemnation after an Indian woman, Swati Verma, shared a video of the encounter on social media.
The footage, which has since gone viral, shows a local woman hurling racist remarks at Verma, including telling her to “go back to India” and questioning why she was allowed to stay in Ireland.
Swati Verma posted the video along with a detailed account of the disturbing event on Instagram, describing it as deeply traumatic. She said the confrontation happened around 9 pm. while she was walking home from the gym. A woman approached her, initially appearing to ask for directions, but quickly shifted to aggressive questioning about her immigration status.
“She asked why I came to Ireland, what I was doing here, and told me to go back to India,” Swati wrote. “I never thought I’d have to justify my existence on a street I walk every day.”
Despite being shocked and frightened, Swati decided to document the incident. She said her decision to record, report, and share it was driven by a desire to raise awareness. “Racism, intimidation, and hate still walk freely on our streets,” she said. “This shouldn’t happen to anyone.”
Swati also noted that the woman appeared to be wearing a badge labeled "DCU" (possibly referencing Dublin City University), and although she suspected the woman might have mental health issues, she chose to post the video for public awareness and safety.
In a pinned comment on her post, Swati shared further details: “She kept invading my personal space, touching me, and questioning whether I had a visa, if I rented or owned a home and even asked if India gave people independence.”
Social media users have since rallied around Swati, expressing outrage and support. One user commented, “Sorry you had to deal with this. Hopefully, something is done about your report.” Another added, “You never have to justify your existence to anyone.”