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02/06/2014
Woman Charged Over Racist Attack
A woman has been charged by detectives investigating a racist attack on two Pakistani men in north Belfast at the weekend.
The 18-year-old has been charged with disorderly behaviour and will appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on 27 June.
The charges relate to an attack on Muhammad Asif Khattak, who lives at Parkmount Street in the city. In the early hours of Sunday morning, Mr Khattak noticed damage to a window in his living room when he got up to get a drink of water. A glass bottle had been thrown through the living room window.
Then, later the same day, Mr Khattak received racist abuse at the hands of a group of people outside his property. Two men forced their way into his home and attacked him a second time, as well as his housemate.
Mr Khattak and his housemate were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries.
A 57-year-old man was also arrested over the hate crime, but was later released on bail.
The attack follows a public message of support by First Minister Peter Robinson for Pastor James McConnell of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast, who described Islam as "heathen" and "satanic" and said he did not trust Muslims. Mr Robinson responded by defending Pastor McConnell's right to free speech, indicating that he would trust Muslims to "go down the shops for him", but would not trust those who are "fully devoted to Sharia law".
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said: "The PSNI is treating last night’s cowardly attack on the men’s home in Parkmount Street as a hate crime. It’s vital that political leaders right across the community stand up against those involved in hate crime whether those crimes are sectarian or racist in character.
"People should be able to get on with their lives free from fear and intimidation. This incident is the latest in a spate of racist attacks in the city.
It also comes in the wake of offensive comments made against the Muslim community. It’s imperative the First Minister stands shoulder to shoulder with him in sending out the clearest signal yet that there is no place for racial intolerance in this society."
(IT)
The 18-year-old has been charged with disorderly behaviour and will appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on 27 June.
The charges relate to an attack on Muhammad Asif Khattak, who lives at Parkmount Street in the city. In the early hours of Sunday morning, Mr Khattak noticed damage to a window in his living room when he got up to get a drink of water. A glass bottle had been thrown through the living room window.
Then, later the same day, Mr Khattak received racist abuse at the hands of a group of people outside his property. Two men forced their way into his home and attacked him a second time, as well as his housemate.
Mr Khattak and his housemate were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries.
A 57-year-old man was also arrested over the hate crime, but was later released on bail.
The attack follows a public message of support by First Minister Peter Robinson for Pastor James McConnell of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast, who described Islam as "heathen" and "satanic" and said he did not trust Muslims. Mr Robinson responded by defending Pastor McConnell's right to free speech, indicating that he would trust Muslims to "go down the shops for him", but would not trust those who are "fully devoted to Sharia law".
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said: "The PSNI is treating last night’s cowardly attack on the men’s home in Parkmount Street as a hate crime. It’s vital that political leaders right across the community stand up against those involved in hate crime whether those crimes are sectarian or racist in character.
"People should be able to get on with their lives free from fear and intimidation. This incident is the latest in a spate of racist attacks in the city.
It also comes in the wake of offensive comments made against the Muslim community. It’s imperative the First Minister stands shoulder to shoulder with him in sending out the clearest signal yet that there is no place for racial intolerance in this society."
(IT)
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