Racial violence and the Gulf War
01 January 1991
Racial violence and the Gulf War
artdoc July=1991
Racist attacks arising from the Gulf War have been
particularly targeted against religious centres and are on
the rise in colleges and school playgrounds. The Chair of
the Commission for Racial Equality has warned that `an
excess of patriotism could mask an offensive against
racism'. (Morning Star 23.1.91)
A burning rag was thrown through the window of a mosque
in Chorley, Lancs (Sun 15.1.91). Petrol was poured through a
roof vent of the Medina Majid Mosque in Batley. (Asian Times
22.1.91; Guardian 17.1.91; Batley News 24.1.91; Independent
17.1.91; Times 17.1.91) Petrol was poured over the door of a
Woking mosque and set alight and several cars in the area
daubed with anti-Iraqi graffiti. (Guardian 23.1.91)
According to the Star `slippers left by Moslem worshippers
at a mosque in Norwich were set on fire'. (Star 23.1.91)
There have been reported incidents against mosques in
Burnley and Chorley. (Observer 26.1.91) The Saddam Hussein
mosque in Birmingham has been given extra police protection.
(Eastern Eye 29.1.91)
The Head of the Islamic Party of Great Britain, David
Pidcock has been offered police protection after death
threats (Sun 29.1.91) and the Islamic Community Centre in
Hackney was also threatened. (City Limits 7.2.91) The
offices of Tottenham MP Bernie Grant were broken into and
important documents stolen. Although the thieves left behind
graffiti reading `Death to Niggers' and `Kill all Iraqis',
Grant believes that the incident was not isolated but part
of a more organised campaign by people reacting to his
anti-Gulf war position. (Caribbean Times 29.1.91)
In addition, an Asian family's home was set on fire in
the Shipley area of Bradford and in Sheffield a minibus
taking children from the Yemeni Community Association to
school was stoned. (Observer 26.1.91)
Meanwhile, the CRE have reported an increase in
playground attacks on children from ethnic minorities and
claim that teachers are dealing with the Gulf crisis without
`the right degree of skill and insight'. The Head of
Plashett Girls School, Newham, has launched an inquiry
following complaints from Muslim parents after a teacher
asked Muslim children whether they supported Saddam Hussein
and then allegedly told them `You should all be shot'.
(Observer 26.1.91) The CRE say that children with the name
Hussein are being ridiculed by their classmates, nick-named
Saddam and subjected to jingles and rhymes with racist words
like `wags'.
Also, the Hasmonean Boy's School in Holders Hill Road,
which stands next to a synagogue, had its deputy
headmaster's office gutted and a portable side-building
seriously damaged in an attack that was possibly related to
the situation in the Gulf. (Evening Standard 24.1.91)
The Council for Overseas Students Affairs has called
for a clampdown on racist attacks on Arab students. London
University Students Union says that many Arab students are
not attending College because they fear racist attacks.
(Independent 26.1.91) It is not known whether an air-rifle
attack on two 17-year-old Bangladeshi students in Tower
Hamlets was connected to the war but discussions are being
held between the NUS and teachers unions in the area.
(Independent 25.1.91)
IRR Police-Media Bulletin no 67. Institute of Race
Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS