Is it cos I is Muslim?

Radio 4 produce a programme reporting on the phenomenon of Muslims leaving their place of birth in the UK and moving to places like Dubai because of increasing Islamophobia. A Guardian/ICM poll found two-thirds of Muslims thinking like this in 2005:

"Here, I look more Arab so I am viewed in a positive way, the tables are turned if you like. And it does affect you psychologically. I feel more comfortable here, which is sad really because Britain is my home. I was born there, my family are there and part of me does feel sad to leave. It's not an easy thing."

I recently visited Dubai for the first time in a while and will hopefully blog on this in more depth soon. Meanwhile, more with Indigo Jo.

Comments

[Shahid]

Salaam Osama,

I have been thinking along similar lines for the last two years. If it weren't for my children, I would have already left.

[Yasmin Mahdi]

Aye I'm trying to get out myself....could just be my general restlessness - but it's very true that Britain has got so much worse over the last few years in terms of Islamophobia and discrimination.

[Mohammed Akram Ibrahim]

Breaches of the Race Relations Act, the Human Rights Act 1998 and
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Unfortunatly I cannot leave Britain.

My name is: Mohammed Akram Ibrahim, DOB,16/12/50 and my address is
Flat 0/1, 150 Coplaw Street, Govanhill, Glasgow. G42
7DD. This has been my address since 1999 and before
that I lived at 37 Alder Lane, Bournville, Birmingham.
B30 4QU. Please note that breaches of Acts have occurred at
both addresses and are still occurring. Please advise
as to what I should do to rectify or complain about
this.

I was employed by the DHSS in the 1970's and 1980's and
towards the end of that period I experienced considerable
racial harrassment. I thought that that was the end of it but certain
individuals including Scott Harvey, David Miller and people from the
Benefit Fraud Inspectorate at 57 Queen Street, Glasgow. G1, i.e. a
person called George(with a weird laugh) and his
friend, a girl in Marielle
Grant's section who wears a JJB top and her friend Paul Hurdy and
others, have been leaking information from files and also fabricating
evidence with their colleagues based in India Street and then spreading
rumours in the public domain especially near police intelligence personnel
and criminal elements.

These have included being a terrorist, a drug dealer, a brothel keeper,
a benefit cheat and a pervert doing things in toilets. One of the
health problems I have is benign prostatic hyperplasia which means I cannot
empty my bladder easily. George, Paul Hurdy and their friends have told
the vice squad that I am doing things in the toilets or taking drugs.
This information was passed to someone called Nicola who works with the
Transport Police.

On various occasions, due to these rumours I have been called a wog,
jungle bunny, or "the paki that showed us up", by police
officers. I have
also been assaulted twice by police officers
in Glasgow. One of the Benefit Agency officers(he has a red birthmark
on his right cheek and wears glasses) told a police surveillance team
that I could be involved with the London bombing just a day after the
atrocity and another said that I was an IRA bomber.

More recently due to these rumours, I was assaulted on the 22/2/2006 at
R. G.'S at 73 Queen Street Glasgow, Strathclyde G1 3BZ. by drug squad
officers and my mobile phone taken and recently I learned that the phone
numbers on my stolen mobile phone have been checked out by British
Telecom

Personal information about me has also been circulated
especially near IRA sympathizers by George, Scott Harvey and David
Miller which poses a danger to me and members of my family. I served as an
Army Reservist for two years from 1978 with 23 Security and
Intelligence Company(Volunteers). Tony Mclaughlin, Scott Harvey and
David Miller
were aware of this as I joined while we worked in the same office. Scott
Harvey's uncle was even in the same regiment.

Please look into this matter as I fear a repetition of this either
against me or members of my family as on 22/3/2007 a benefit fraud team
were on the same bus videoing me with their brooch camera. This could be
doctored and then leaked to teach me a lesson or vilify me as certain
people had done to Tommy Sheridan. George from 57 Queens Street had
discussed this possibility with someone from police intelligence. Benefit Fraud staff have also stated that I know George Galloway and Tommy Sheridan to justify electronic and
physical surveillance on my emails, phone and flat as they now have responsibility in doing terrorist checks on people.

The last time I complained about intimidation and harassment I spoke at
length on the phone with a Mr McEwan from West Regent Street, who
initially denied that Scott Harvey or David Miller ever worked with the
Benefit Agency. He then went on to say that it would be difficult to
find out where they worked, so I told him it would be pointless meeting
him at his office. More
recent incidents have included two gaelic speaking
females from benefit fraud saying out loud that I was living on the proceedings
of drug money on the bus I was travelling on. I was threatened with homelessness
on a previous occasion if I reported or complained about any members of staff.

Regards, M.A.Ibrahim.

Personal note to Osama Saeed- Show this email to Akhtar Saeed your father as he knows me since we were teenagers until I moved away. And also give a copy for safekeeping to Aamer Anwar plus also the email which I sent under the section on Human Rights. EDIT BEFORE YOU PUT THIS ONLINE.