A Muslim woman has taken to Facebook to thank fellow passengers for jumping to her defence after being racially abused while on a train with her sister.

Ruhi Rahman, 23, explained how while travelling between Newcastle and Whitely Bay this weekend, one man shouted abuse at the pair, purely because of their religious beliefs.

She told how the man approached them on the metro, and said:

“Get out of this seat now. This is my country.

“You’re bombing different countries and don't deserve to be here or in this country.”

But before Rahman had a chance to take in or respond to the onslaught of abuse, the people around her in the carriage jumped to her defence.

The situation eventually ended in the man alighting at the next station, accompanied by a round of applause by the other passengers eager to stress they didn’t share his prejudice and hateful views.

After the incident on Saturday (21 November), Raham wrote the following message on Facebook:

“Can't believe what happened in the metro today. I was with my sister on the metro when this guy approached us and started coming out with racist threatening comments like, 'Get out of this seat now. This is my country. You’re bombing different countries and don't deserve to be here or in this country’ and much more.

“Before I even got a chance to react to his comments, the women beside me, supported me and helped. After a while most of the people on the metro came over and spoke up for us and were being so supportive, they even told the man to get of the metro. It was so sweet to see how everyone in the metro got the man off and then clapped at the end.

“It really shows me how this world is full of such sweet people and some dogs too. The women beside me started to cry because she was so disgusted with his comments and she said no one should go through this and everyone also gave me a hug.

“It made me smile and appreciate how lovely they all were. I hope more people cannot be so narrow minded and realise how Islam should not be blamed for an individual's act because Islam stands for peace not terrorism.”

After her story was soon spread, shared and picked up by media outlets, Rahman again posted her gratitude towards those who have supported her throughout and after the incident. She said:

“I just wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart… You have turned something so negative into something so positive. We came as one unity, stood up against what is wrong. I was so overwhelmed and still am with all your support. Geordies are truly the best! You passengers that defended me and my sister were my angels, feel like we were one big family.”

She also explains that she reported the incident to police, who are now investigating it.

A most recent post of hers states: “There's a lot of bad in society, but my experience proves that good will always outweigh the bad” - a sentiment that we must continue to remember.