A family told today how they are living in fear of a gang of young racist thugs who have been laying siege to their home for months.
Abdur Rahim, 32, and his heavily-pregnant wife Nazama, who are originally from Bangladesh, have suffered a campaign of vandalism and harassment since the beginning of the year.
The gang throws stones, smashes windows and vandalises taxi driver Mr Rahim's car outside his Broomhouse home. In one of the latest incidents at the weekend, a stone crashed right through the window, leaving a golf ball-sized hole.
Police today confirmed they were treating the attacks as racially motivated and appealed for information as Mr Rahim said he was at a loss to explain why he was being targeted.
The couple, who have a seven-year-old daughter, have lived in Broomhouse Loan for ten years, but the problems only started in January when the gang of around five teenagers began to attack.
Mr Rahim said: "We've never done anything against them but they have suddenly taken exception to us being here, so I can only assume they have a problem with the fact that we're ethnic Asians.
"My family is originally from Bangladesh but my daughter is Scottish and my new baby will be Scottish as well.
"My neighbour is also Bangladeshi and he's had the same problems that I've had. We're the only two houses on the street that are being targeted by this gang so our ethnic origin is the only explanation for it.
"We just don't know what to do. There's a big hole in our window but when we replace it, it will only get smashed again."
Mr Rahim's car is also covered in chips, dents and scratches left by the vandals.
Mrs Rahim, 31, a John Lewis assistant, is expecting the couple's second child later this month and fears for the safety of their family. She said: "They've smashed our windows and scratched our car, and who knows what they could do next.
"I've recently been diagnosed with diabetes and, coupled with the pregnancy, I'm already under a lot of strain, but the added stress has made me fear for the safety of my unborn child.
"The atmosphere in the house over the last eight months has been terrible."
A police spokesman said they were following a "positive line of inquiry" over the attacks
He said: "We are currently working with our partner agencies to address this issue "Anyone with information that can assist us with our inquiries is asked to contact police immediately.
"Lothian and Borders Police will not tolerate racially- motivated crime."
Local councillor Eric Milligan, who sits on the police board, said he would be speaking to the chief constable to ensure that those responsible were prosecuted "to the full extent of the law".
He said: "Having been a member of the police board for many years now, I have been continuously impressed with how robustly the police deal with incidents such as this.
"We have made a lot of progress in community relations in recent years and reports of this kind have become increasingly rare.
"However, we cannot let this progress be spoiled by a few individuals, or allow their actions to besmirch the good name of Broomhouse."
News Scotsman
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Drunk jailed after glassing boxing fan in racist attack (UK)
A drunk who smashed a bottle into the head of a boxing fan during a racist attack in a pub has been jailed.
Doyle Leech is starting an 18-month jail term after racially abusing Adrian Johnson, then hitting him across the forehead with the bottle.
The attack left Mr Johnson – who had been returning from a boxing show – with a three-centimetre cut to the head which needed butterfly stitches in hospital.
But Stafford Crown Court heard Leech could not remember the attack – because he had drunk 20 double vodkas and seven pints of beer.
The 37-year-old, of Kent Grove, Stone, admitted racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm at the Crown and Anchor, in Stone, on October 23.
Paul Farrow, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Johnson had become involved in an argument in the pub with the defendant's cousin and, as they left, punches were thrown. But Leech was then seen to pick up a bottle, run at Mr Johnson and, jumping into the air, smash it on to his forehead.
Eugene Hickey, defending, said: "There is a difference between someone who attacks someone because of their ethnic group and someone who uses racist language. It would not have mattered what racial group the injured party belonged to – he was involved with my client's cousin.
"His cousin had been involved in some sort of incident with the complainant. He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour."
Recorder Adam Feest told Leech: "In a quite deliberate and violent way, you smashed the bottle over his head. To compound that violence you used foul, abusive and racist language, the sort which has no place in this country.
"You were extremely drunk. Twenty double vodkas and seven pints is a lot in anyone's book."
This is Staffordshire
Doyle Leech is starting an 18-month jail term after racially abusing Adrian Johnson, then hitting him across the forehead with the bottle.
The attack left Mr Johnson – who had been returning from a boxing show – with a three-centimetre cut to the head which needed butterfly stitches in hospital.
But Stafford Crown Court heard Leech could not remember the attack – because he had drunk 20 double vodkas and seven pints of beer.
The 37-year-old, of Kent Grove, Stone, admitted racially aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm at the Crown and Anchor, in Stone, on October 23.
Paul Farrow, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Johnson had become involved in an argument in the pub with the defendant's cousin and, as they left, punches were thrown. But Leech was then seen to pick up a bottle, run at Mr Johnson and, jumping into the air, smash it on to his forehead.
Eugene Hickey, defending, said: "There is a difference between someone who attacks someone because of their ethnic group and someone who uses racist language. It would not have mattered what racial group the injured party belonged to – he was involved with my client's cousin.
"His cousin had been involved in some sort of incident with the complainant. He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour."
Recorder Adam Feest told Leech: "In a quite deliberate and violent way, you smashed the bottle over his head. To compound that violence you used foul, abusive and racist language, the sort which has no place in this country.
"You were extremely drunk. Twenty double vodkas and seven pints is a lot in anyone's book."
This is Staffordshire
British taxpayers fund trip to far-Right conference
British taxpayers are paying for Far-Right politicians to attend the first conference aimed at creating an official worldwide alliance between extreme nationalist parties.
The three-day gathering, which is the first of its kind, is being organised by Issuikai, a Right-wing Japanese party which disputes the extent of the Nanjing massacre in China.
At least 100 representatives of far-right parties - including the BNP - from eight countries, are expected to attend the conference in Tokyo which will include a tour of the controversial Yasukuni Shrine to more than 1,000 Second World War criminals.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front, is due to make a key-note speech at the conference on Friday.
It comes as fears over the growing popularity of European Right-wing groups increase following gains in national elections and the European Election of last year.
The Alliance of European National Movements, the coalition of Europe's Far-Right parties is sending 20 delegates to the Future of Nationalist Movements conference.
Bruno Gollnisch MEP, the vice-president of France's Front National, is expected to attend along with members of Hungary's Jobbik party, which recently won 17 per cent in the country's general election, Vlaams Belang from Belgium, Portugal's Partido Nacional, and Italy's Fiamma Tricolore.
Adam Walker, a high-ranking member of the BNP who was accused of calling immigrants "savage animals" when he worked as a teacher, is representing the British National Party.
Issuikai is covering the delegates' accommodation, local transport, and food costs but those attending are to fund their own return flights to Japan, which often cost up to £1,000.
MEPs are entitled to a personal travel allowance outside their member country of up to 4,000 euros a year and many are thought to be using some of the money to fly to the conference.
Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Leader of the Conservatives in the bloc called for the European Parliament's auditors to investigate.
Matthew Elliot, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This is yet another example of MEPs abusing expenses. It would be a disgrace for British taxpayers' money to be used to fund MEP's travel to a conference which is in part organised by a group that denies war crimes such as the Nanjing Massacre.
"Any money MEPs receive should be subject to more scrutiny and they should be more accountable to those who pay their salaries and expenses, they should not have free rein to use taxpayers' money to propagate abhorrent views like those of Issuikai."
The Telegraph
The three-day gathering, which is the first of its kind, is being organised by Issuikai, a Right-wing Japanese party which disputes the extent of the Nanjing massacre in China.
At least 100 representatives of far-right parties - including the BNP - from eight countries, are expected to attend the conference in Tokyo which will include a tour of the controversial Yasukuni Shrine to more than 1,000 Second World War criminals.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front, is due to make a key-note speech at the conference on Friday.
It comes as fears over the growing popularity of European Right-wing groups increase following gains in national elections and the European Election of last year.
The Alliance of European National Movements, the coalition of Europe's Far-Right parties is sending 20 delegates to the Future of Nationalist Movements conference.
Bruno Gollnisch MEP, the vice-president of France's Front National, is expected to attend along with members of Hungary's Jobbik party, which recently won 17 per cent in the country's general election, Vlaams Belang from Belgium, Portugal's Partido Nacional, and Italy's Fiamma Tricolore.
Adam Walker, a high-ranking member of the BNP who was accused of calling immigrants "savage animals" when he worked as a teacher, is representing the British National Party.
Issuikai is covering the delegates' accommodation, local transport, and food costs but those attending are to fund their own return flights to Japan, which often cost up to £1,000.
MEPs are entitled to a personal travel allowance outside their member country of up to 4,000 euros a year and many are thought to be using some of the money to fly to the conference.
Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Leader of the Conservatives in the bloc called for the European Parliament's auditors to investigate.
Matthew Elliot, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This is yet another example of MEPs abusing expenses. It would be a disgrace for British taxpayers' money to be used to fund MEP's travel to a conference which is in part organised by a group that denies war crimes such as the Nanjing Massacre.
"Any money MEPs receive should be subject to more scrutiny and they should be more accountable to those who pay their salaries and expenses, they should not have free rein to use taxpayers' money to propagate abhorrent views like those of Issuikai."
The Telegraph
POLICE STARTING TO SERVE EVICTION NOTICES TO ROMA CAMPS IN HELSINKI (Finland)
Makeshift tents and laundry hung to dry on trees near the car park of Finlandia Hall had to leave, along with 32 foreign Roma who had set up camp there, when police evicted the group on Monday. Police patrols have served eviction notices on a weekly basis to camps of itinerant Roma around the city at the request of the Public Works Department of the City of Helsinki. Printed notices have been handed out at dozens of unauthorised camps around the Finnish capital. “Generally the campers have left voluntarily. We have told them how things are, and urged them to find a location that is appropriate for camping”, says Mika Pöyry of the Helsinki Police. “Last week there was a community of 50 tents in Arabianranta, which left after being given an eviction notice. We have not had to use any force.” Helsinki has a policy of zero tolerance toward unauthorised camping. “The view of the city is that Rastila campground is the only place where camping is allowed over here”, says Pekka Henttonen of the Public Works Department. According to Public Works Department project planner Hannu Jukarainen, the number of people camping out in Helsinki has not diminished, even though the department’s cooperation with the police has worked well. “The campers move to a new unauthorised camping place as soon as they get an eviction notice.” One reason for the hard line taken toward unauthorised camping is that the camps have brought many complaints from the public. Mika Pöyry says that people living in the camps include citizens of several European countries - mainly Romanians and Bulgarians. The first of the written eviction notices were printed about three weeks ago in several languages, including Romanian and Bulgarian.
hs.fi
hs.fi
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ALIENS ACT DRAWS FIRE (Finland)
Who should be responsible for the subsistence of an elderly person who has moved into Finland? This question has surfaced when the Ministry of the Interior has been working on proposed amendments to the Aliens Act following the furore among Finns relating to the deportation decisions of two grandmothers - Egyptian citizen Eveline Fadayel and Russian citizen Irina Antonova - made by the Finnish Immigration Service. According to the draft bill, the grown-up child of an elderly immigrant parent will have to be able to provide for his or her livelihood in Finland, if the parent cannot support himself or herself. The purpose is to establish the subsistence possibilities when the parent in question is applying for a Finnish residence permit for the first time.
The subsistence requirement has attracted attention when the draft bill has been circulated to ministries and official bodies for comments. For example, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health regards the requirement as problematic. ”The requirement is based on a concept according to which grown-up children are responsible for the livelihood of their parents”, Permanent Secretary Kari Välimäki and Senior Officer Helena Kantola write in their statement. The MInistry points out that all residents of Finland are entitled to the social security benefits as well as social and health care services. The municipalities are in charge of organising and paying for them. Even the statements issued by the cities of Espoo and Vantaa comment that grown-up children cannot be ordered to support their parents in a way that is contradictory to the obligations of other citizens. According to the MInistry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland would be treating different immigrant groups unequally, if the entry into Finland could be granted on the basis of their children’s prosperity.
A total of a dozen or so authorities and organisations delivered their statements on the draft bill prepared by the Migration Department of the MInistry of the Interior by the deadline - Monday. Many of the statements called for various adjustments to the proposed amendments to the Aliens Act, but none of them contested the aim to loosen the practice in cases like those of Antonova and Fadayel. However, the Ombudsman for Minorities and the Legal Affairs Unit of the Ministry of the Interior argued that even without amendments, the present law would allow for a more lenient policy. According to the draft bill, one of the residence permit criteria would be - apart from the subsistence requirement - that the parent who is living alone in his or her home country should be significantly dependent on the grown-up child residing in Finland. The child in question would have to be a Finnish citizen and he or she would be obliged to pay for the subsistence of their parent in Finland. In March, the government agreed that the Aliens Act would be amended to allow for greater discretion in cases that require a humanitarian perspective.
hs.fi
The subsistence requirement has attracted attention when the draft bill has been circulated to ministries and official bodies for comments. For example, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health regards the requirement as problematic. ”The requirement is based on a concept according to which grown-up children are responsible for the livelihood of their parents”, Permanent Secretary Kari Välimäki and Senior Officer Helena Kantola write in their statement. The MInistry points out that all residents of Finland are entitled to the social security benefits as well as social and health care services. The municipalities are in charge of organising and paying for them. Even the statements issued by the cities of Espoo and Vantaa comment that grown-up children cannot be ordered to support their parents in a way that is contradictory to the obligations of other citizens. According to the MInistry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland would be treating different immigrant groups unequally, if the entry into Finland could be granted on the basis of their children’s prosperity.
A total of a dozen or so authorities and organisations delivered their statements on the draft bill prepared by the Migration Department of the MInistry of the Interior by the deadline - Monday. Many of the statements called for various adjustments to the proposed amendments to the Aliens Act, but none of them contested the aim to loosen the practice in cases like those of Antonova and Fadayel. However, the Ombudsman for Minorities and the Legal Affairs Unit of the Ministry of the Interior argued that even without amendments, the present law would allow for a more lenient policy. According to the draft bill, one of the residence permit criteria would be - apart from the subsistence requirement - that the parent who is living alone in his or her home country should be significantly dependent on the grown-up child residing in Finland. The child in question would have to be a Finnish citizen and he or she would be obliged to pay for the subsistence of their parent in Finland. In March, the government agreed that the Aliens Act would be amended to allow for greater discretion in cases that require a humanitarian perspective.
hs.fi
Blockade sparked by racism allegations ends near Halifax (Canada)
A blockade set up by more than two dozen protesters amid allegations of racism ended Tuesday on a rural road east of Halifax.
The blockade began Monday when some protesters alleged that residents of North Preston, a predominantly black community, were being denied access to a shortcut around a nearby construction site.
The residents pointed out that a group of 10 white families living near the construction site at Lake Major had access to a private, former logging road to reach the nearest highway.
However, they said the 2,000 residents of North Preston — about five kilometres away — did not.
“This whole matter of preferential treatment was blown totally out of proportion and I'm discouraged that it did take the action that it did take,” said area councillor David Hendsbee.
The blockade ended around noon on Tuesday after the protesters met with Mr. Hendsbee, the mayor, business owners and the owners of the locked road.
Instead of opening up the shortcut to the protesters, Mr. Hendsbee said the road's owners decided to restrict access to everyone but themselves and emergency vehicles.
“The lock will be changed and those keys that some of the other local residents had in the area will no longer be operational,” he said.
The road, which Mr. Hendsbee said was too small to open up to North Preston traffic, will also be used as an emergency evacuation route, if needed.
Mr. Hendsbee said the white residents were initially given access because of where they live, not the colour of their skin.
He said about eight homeowners would no longer be able to use the shortcut, though he didn't expect that would be an issue.
“Only a few of them were using it ... they found it just as easy and convenient to use the North Preston detour, which I knew would be the case,” he said.
The protesters said North Preston residents have to use an unlit, partially paved road to reach the highway, which has raised safety concerns.
Mr. Hendsbee said those issues rest with the province and Nova Scotia Power.
The detour is expected to be in place until Sept. 2, he said.
The Globe and Mail
The blockade began Monday when some protesters alleged that residents of North Preston, a predominantly black community, were being denied access to a shortcut around a nearby construction site.
The residents pointed out that a group of 10 white families living near the construction site at Lake Major had access to a private, former logging road to reach the nearest highway.
However, they said the 2,000 residents of North Preston — about five kilometres away — did not.
“This whole matter of preferential treatment was blown totally out of proportion and I'm discouraged that it did take the action that it did take,” said area councillor David Hendsbee.
The blockade ended around noon on Tuesday after the protesters met with Mr. Hendsbee, the mayor, business owners and the owners of the locked road.
Instead of opening up the shortcut to the protesters, Mr. Hendsbee said the road's owners decided to restrict access to everyone but themselves and emergency vehicles.
“The lock will be changed and those keys that some of the other local residents had in the area will no longer be operational,” he said.
The road, which Mr. Hendsbee said was too small to open up to North Preston traffic, will also be used as an emergency evacuation route, if needed.
Mr. Hendsbee said the white residents were initially given access because of where they live, not the colour of their skin.
He said about eight homeowners would no longer be able to use the shortcut, though he didn't expect that would be an issue.
“Only a few of them were using it ... they found it just as easy and convenient to use the North Preston detour, which I knew would be the case,” he said.
The protesters said North Preston residents have to use an unlit, partially paved road to reach the highway, which has raised safety concerns.
Mr. Hendsbee said those issues rest with the province and Nova Scotia Power.
The detour is expected to be in place until Sept. 2, he said.
The Globe and Mail
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