News

Living hell convert wants last days in peace

Shelina Begum
21/11/2003

A TERMINALLY ill Muslim convert says racists are making her last days a "living hell".
Rabina Shafique, who converted to Islam 17-years-ago and married her Pakistani husband Mohammed seven year's ago, has suffered everything from obscene racist abuse to having a shot fired at her home by her tormentors.
The 45-year-old who has a doctorate in philosophy has terminal cancer and is desperate to live her last days in peace.
She said racists living near her home on Grafton Street, Rochdale, constantly spout hatred over her marriage and the fact that she wears traditional Muslim dress.
Most off the abuse comes from white youths but she has even been attacked in the past by Asians who do no approve of 'mixed' marriages.
She has had flour, eggs and even an old bicycle tyre thrown at her by racists while she walked to the supermarket wearing a hijab.
On a separate occasion her husband had dogs set on him by neighbours.
The most recent incident was a shooting. Mrs Shafique said she saw youths outside her house carrying something in a plastic bag. As she bent down to switch the TV on she says a bullet went through her front window and over her head.
Police later confirmed that an airgun had been used in the attack.
Ironically Mrs Shafique moved out of Oldham after suffering racist abuse there in the hope that conditions in Rochdale would be better.
She said: "Things are even worse here. I get called a grass and informer and a Paki bitch by these racists. Every single day I get abuse just because I'm a Muslim and I'm married to an Asian man. They think they can keep me a prisoner in my own home, but I'm not giving up without a fight, I'm not about to change my religion or my dress because of some racists."
Mrs Shafique says she has asked her landlord, Ashiana Housing Association, to move her several times.
"Ashiana always say there are no houses and if I'm that desperate to move I can go private."
She added: "We are both disabled people and all this abuse is too much for us. If nothing is done about my situation, the police will be carrying two dead bodies out of here."
Spokesperson for Ashiana, Tahir Idris said they were trying their best to help Mrs Shafique and that she was offered alternative accommodation but that she refused it because it did not meet her medical needs.
Mr Idris said one resident who had been identified as causing a "nuisance" had been served with a notice threatening repossession.
He added: "Ashiana takes the issues that Mrs Shafique alleges very seriously indeed.
"Our normal course of action is to respond immediately to serious incidents, to investigate and to act in dealing with perpetrators swiftly and re-house if appropriate."
A spokesman for Rochdale police said they were doing all they could for Mrs Shafique.
He added they one difficutly was that she had not been able to identify the individuals who are attacking her.


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