
rotest against racist attacks against Pakistani Muslim brothers Nadeem and Mudassar Akbar in Niddrie, Edinburgh today 4.30 pm Cragmillar Library – please attend.
https://www.facebook.com/events/570448223539709/
Positive Action in Housing condemns the vicious racist attack on two defenceless Pakistani Muslim brothers trying to provide a livelihood for their families.
Like a pack of hyenas descending on their prey, the footage says it all. Fine words about welcoming refugee/migrant/ethnic minority communities mean nothing when members of our community can be beaten to a pulp with crowbars and knives without provocation. the racist intent of the mob was clear. they were shouting “P*ki b*stards” and “Why did you come to this country?” as they surrounded the two brothers.
The siblings, who have lived in Scotland for about 20 years after leaving Pakistan, believe they could have been fatally injured in the shocking incident. Nadeem and Mudasser said the gang had been gathering outside their shop for the last two months, mouthing racist abuse, vandalising their cars and terrorising customers. Nadeem was struck over the head with a crowbar, leaving a bloody wound, while Mudassar was repeatedly punched in the face. Mudassar, 38, said:
“I was going out for something to eat. My brother came with me as I went to my car to make sure I was OK. We’re scared to go alone. This gang were already waiting for us, like it was planned, and started shouting racist language. Two or three had crowbars and one had a really big kitchen knife. The racist language is ‘P*** b******’, ‘Go back to your own country’,‘We’re going to kill you and burn down your shop’.We’ve had some great support from our customers, ,though, and we won’t let these people drive us out.”
Police Scotland said: “Officers are treating the incident as a hate crime and inquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police, quoting reference number 3092 for January 23.”
This is not the first vicious attack on our immigrant shop keepers who provide a vital service for local communities up and down Scotland.
In November 2018, a Musselburgh shopkeeper, Ilhan Ahmedov, was kicked in the face and repeatedly punched in a racist attack at his family run store. The attacker Craig Douglas shouted “We are Scottish – who are you?” at the stunned shop owner and then beat and punched him as he cowered in the doorway.
In June 2017, Ozzy Afzal’s Renfrew store was targeted by vandals repeatedly in an Islamophobic attack. The shopkeeper, whose family have had the shop in the area for 25 years, said: “I am shocked and what happened has had an impact on my mood, my work and responsibility.I feel very much victimised by this ignorance and want to send a message out there that myself and my family are part of this tight knitted community, we treat people good and provide a very friendly service, and we have done for over two decades.”
In April 2017, Dundee shopkeeper Abdul Khaliq was assaulted, robbed and targeted with racist abuse at his shop in Mid Craigie by Thomas Henderson, 25.
The sooner Scotland faces up to its racism problem and comes down hard on the culprits the better.
Robina Qureshi