An increasing number of women in Islamic hijab in the United States are attending self-defence classes.

It follows a sharp rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric in the America since,  the Paris attacks and the shooting in San Bernardino.

According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),  the number of incidents has tripled and around 80% of the victims are women.

The national communications director of CAIR, Ibrahim Hooper, said that, "there is really a need for Muslim women to protect themselves in this society."

Since, the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump suggested a ban on Muslims entering the country, the "flood gates really opened," she said.

"Even after 9/11, Islamophobia was there but it was on the fringe of society. Now thanks to Donald Trump and Ben Carson and others, Islamophobia is firmly in the mainstream,”Hooper said.

She added that, "people who attack Muslims on the local level - they view it as almost their patriotic duty based on this kind of extremist, bigoted rhetoric.”

The headscarves and hijabs worn by Muslim women can sometimes turn them into "walking targets," said Rana Abdelhamid, a self-defence instructor.

she said that, "you can be attacked at any point, you can be pushed off a subway ledge."

"All these different things that go through these young women's minds increases their vulnerability and increases their sense of fear.”

Nandini