Photo credit: WXIA
By Andrian Putra
Alpharetta, April 14, 2025 — A confrontation that began in a shopping mall parking lot and drew national attention concluded with a public apology and a $75,000 donation to a local mosque, in what community leaders are calling a rare step toward restorative justice.
Perry Greene, the ex-husband of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, issued a formal apology last week to three Muslim women whom he was filmed harassing while they prayed outside a mall in Alpharetta, a suburb of Atlanta. The incident, which unfolded on March 30 at the Avalon shopping center, showed Mr. Greene leaning out of a Tesla Cybertruck and directing Islamophobic remarks at the women, all of whom were wearing hijabs. The video circulated widely online and prompted swift condemnation.
The three women — identified as Nesrine, Amna, and Amira — said they had pulled into a quiet section of the parking lot to perform one of their five daily prayers when Mr. Greene approached. In footage shared publicly, he can be heard yelling at the group and following them as they attempted to leave. One of the women later said Mr. Greene told them to “go back to our destroyed countries,” despite the fact that all three are U.S.-born.
Following mounting public pressure and calls from civil rights advocates, Mr. Greene met privately with the women and publicly apologized during Friday prayer services at Masjid Jafar, a mosque in Johns Creek. “Nobody should be treated that way,” Mr. Greene said. “That’s not the way to treat anyone with differences. Hopefully, they’ll find it in their hearts to forgive me.”
The apology, facilitated by the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), was followed by an announcement that Mr. Greene had agreed to make a $75,000 donation to the mosque. The amount, according to the women’s attorney, Ali Awad, was chosen to correspond with the minimum required automobile liability coverage in Georgia — $25,000 — multiplied by each minute Mr. Greene was seen in the video confronting the women.
“This was never about money,” said Mr. Awad at a press conference. “This was about showing what true Islam really is — a faith that values forgiveness, grace, and dignity even in the face of hatred.”
The three women, all college students studying medicine, marketing, and early childhood education, emphasized that they would be donating the full settlement amount to Masjid Jafar.
“We care about safety, security, and equality,” said Nesrine, speaking on behalf of the group. “We want to make sure this type of incident does not happen again. Today, I want to tell Mr. Greene that we accept his apology, and we hope he will continue to treat others with fairness, respect, and dignity.”
Local authorities have confirmed that no criminal charges will be filed in the case, citing First Amendment protections around free speech. Alpharetta police said they do not plan to pursue further investigation.
Azka Mahmood, the executive director of CAIR Georgia, said the incident underscores a growing concern: the organization has recorded a 250 percent increase in anti-Muslim incidents in Georgia since the start of the war in Gaza.
“This moment is about more than one confrontation in a parking lot,” Ms. Mahmood said. “It’s about the climate of fear and hatred that too many Muslim Americans face. But this resolution, and the community’s response, show that peace and understanding are still possible.”
Mr. Greene, who divorced Rep. Greene in 2022 after 27 years of marriage, did not speak to reporters following his apology. He left the mosque in a waiting SUV.
