Community Fear Rises in Bradford Amidst Far-Right Tension

Members of a group advocating for ethnic minorities in Bradford recently shared a troubling sense of fear at a meeting, according to the group’s leader.

Humma Nizami, who is the executive director at the Race Equality Network, said many people expressed their worries about becoming targets for far-right groups. This anxiety comes on the heels of incidents that saw mosques in cities like Liverpool, Sunderland, and Middlesbrough coming under attack during a wave of violent protests.

Community centers in Bradford have even stopped their activities after misinformation spread online about far-right threats in the area, highlighting the concern. The Race Equality Network organized a meeting on Tuesday to let community members voice their fears.

Nizami stressed the importance of partnership with the Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police to protect the community in case any disorder breaks out. ‘There was a general sense of fear,’ she noted, adding that local organizations were canceling events due to worries about potential clashes.

She encouraged everyone to keep their routines and events running, saying, ‘Business as usual.’ Nizami also indicated a desire to collaborate with police on combating the online falsehoods that have been spreading, emphasizing how quickly these rumors can circulate.

Rashad Bokhari, the chief executive of the Council for Mosques in Bradford, pointed out that this misinformation is severely impacting the community. However, he also mentioned that nothing would derail the far-right groups more than people continuing with their daily lives.

Mr. Bokhari appreciated the efforts of West Yorkshire Police in ensuring the safety of the community and expressed hope that tensions would not escalate further.

This unrest follows riots that took place across several towns during the weekend and into the week, including Rotherham, Hull, and Darlington. The protests were sparked by the tragic deaths of three children at a dance class in Southport on July 29.

Seventeen-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana faces multiple charges, including three counts of murder. Amidst the uproar, false rumors about the suspect being a Muslim asylum seeker circulated, although the accused is of Rwandan descent and was born in Cardiff.