Nottingham Muslim family met with burning cross

In what must seem reminiscent to the feared Klu Klux Klan in the USA, a Muslim family were greeted at their new home in Nottinghamshire with a burning cross wrapped with ham.

The family, who do not want to be indentified, heard a knock on the door. The father answered only to find no one there but a burning cross which fell into the house.

Police are now investigating the incident which happened in Bingham, Nottinghamshire on Tuesday evening.

For some time now areas around Nottingham and Derbyshire have been hot beds for Far Right race hate politics. Less than two years ago, a Black man from another village was sent death threats because he questioned a local community hall for flying the Union flag all year round. Because of the deep association with Far Right groups, he felt an unease about it. For voicing his opinion, his life was threatened. Police failed to make any arrests over the incident.

There are many African, Asian and Caribbean families who would like to consider living in England’s beautiful countryside, and clearly some do, but all too often there are elements of extreme bigotry which no family should have to endure.

One hopes that for the Muslim man and his family, good local people of Bingham will knock on his door and tell them they are welcome. What’s more, they could assure him that together they will root out the bigots and let justice system effectively deal with race hatred.

Somehow though, I suspect most people will keep their heads down and leave the family to live in fear alone.

Simon Woolley