Are we talking about making a woman move on a plane? It's been discussed on MLW. I remember using strong language to describe how I would have reacted were I the woman.
This new happening isn't there.
If the country where the perp came from had the death penalty for blasphemy and homosexuality, and his religion made a habit of driving around major European cities blindfolded, I daresay it would have been treated differently. All things in proportion.
I don't think that explains why this story didn't get picked up.