Racism: Family hounded out of home

Those holding court about 'moving on from talking about racism and the new post-racial society’  should perhaps invite Salim and Sabana Amod and their four children to air their views on the subject.

The family are desperate to move out of their new house after suffering two years of racist abuse and vandal attacks on their home on Leicester's Saffron Lane estate.

The barrage of attacks include, slashed tyres, racist graffiti being sprayed over their car and front door, stones being hurled at them and their home, and verbal abuse against the family's Muslim faith, after what they thought was to be a happy move into a 'mixed community'.

Salim Amod complains that because of the racist abuse he cannot sleep at night and Mrs Amod says, "I would like to enjoy my life with my family, but I can't. My children are frightened and I am frightened all the time."

And so much for integration and cohesion - Leicester City Council are having to re-house the family in a neighbouring area, and this time they have rightly asked for a home in their "own community".

Local councillor Dale Keeling said: "I'm shocked to hear about this family's experiences. It's the first time in a long time that I have heard of something like this happening in this area”.

Local Police Inspector Rich Toone, said his officers had taken action against some of the troublemakers and one youth was given community service recently for spraying offensive graffiti on the family's home and car.

He said: "We are working with the police to decide whether any further legal action is needed."

WGC

Picture: Salim and Sabana Amod.