London: Jews, Muslims afraid to leave home at night
JEWS and Muslims are 'afraid' of leaving home at night through fear of hate crime attacks on the streets of Redbridge.
As the borough celebrates its Week of Peace, Redbridge Equalities and Community Council has secured government funding to tackle hate-related crime - and the cash cannot come quickly enough for some, as stats reveal incidents are up 27 per cent.
Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, of Chabad Lubavitch, Eastern Avenue, Gants Hill, said: "It is a problem that has been getting worse over the years.
"People can be very abusive. Thank God I have never suffered violently, but certainly people are targeted.
"I know people who refuse to come on to the streets in the evening, they are too frightened. Hate crime has a very big impact on people's lives."
Bashir Chaudhry, chairman of the League of British Muslims, Eton Road, Ilford, said his community had similar fears and had suffered abuse.
He said: "Some people associate the 9/11 terrorists with the Muslim community, so hate crime is obviously prevalent and is growing.
"We need to break the barriers down and have more interaction.
"Parents have a large part to play as their opinions influence their children."
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Source: Ilford Recorder
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