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The Anti-Paki Party?!

stop racism | 05.02.2004 01:04

ASIAN and white voters will have a new choice at the next general election - The Anti-Paki Party!
It is to be launched by a Rochdale pensioner who is no stranger to outrage and controversy

ASIAN and white voters will have a new choice at the next general election - The Anti-Paki Party!
It is to be launched by a Rochdale pensioner who is no stranger to outrage and controversy.
The man behind the move was born Thomas Michael Roche but, as exclusively revealed in Asian News, the 65-year-old ex-soldier changed his name by deed poll to Mr Anti-Paki. Now he wants a political party to match.
He said: "I am against immigration and will stand on that ticket. But if I used my real name no one would notice. Standing as Mr Anti-Paki for the Anti-Paki Party will really catch people's attention."
Astonishingly the former Royal Engineer insists he is "not a racist".
"I have nothing against Pakistanis or Asians in general. I live in an Asian area and I have no trouble with my neighbours. I regularly use Asian taxi firms and the drivers say I am much more polite than other white passengers.
"But I feel this is a small island and it is stupid of the government to keep on allowing more immigrants in. I want people to at least be allowed a referendum on the issue."
Mr Anti-Paki also denies his name is offensive to Asians.
"The Racial Equality Council tried to get my name declared illegal but they were told it is not against the law. If anyone finds my name offensive they can leave the country."
Despite these outrageous views Mr Anti-Paki has no intention of throwing in his lot with other anti-immigration groups such as the British National Party.
"I want nothing to to with the BNP. It encourages thuggery and rabble rousers," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Commission for Racial Equality said Mr Anti Paki appeared to have “taken leave of his senses”.
She added: “It's not possible, without knowing all of the facts, for us to say whether or not this campaign might incite racial hatred. We are a statutory body, so it would be wrong of us to do so.
“People in the UK have the freedom to express their own views, however we are confident that voters will reject racism at the ballot box.”

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Living hell convert wants last days in peace

05.02.2004 04:30

Living hell convert wants last days in peace
First published: 21 Nov 2003

Shelina Begum

A TERMINALLY ill Muslim convert says racists are making her last days a "living hell".
Rabina Shafique, who converted to Islam 17-years-ago and married her Pakistani husband Mohammed seven year's ago, has suffered everything from obscene racist abuse to having a shot fired at her home by her tormentors.
The 45-year-old who has a doctorate in philosophy has terminal cancer and is desperate to live her last days in peace.
She said racists living near her home on Grafton Street, Rochdale, constantly spout hatred over her marriage and the fact that she wears traditional Muslim dress.
Most off the abuse comes from white youths but she has even been attacked in the past by Asians who do no approve of 'mixed' marriages.
She has had flour, eggs and even an old bicycle tyre thrown at her by racists while she walked to the supermarket wearing a hijab.
On a separate occasion her husband had dogs set on him by neighbours.
The most recent incident was a shooting. Mrs Shafique said she saw youths outside her house carrying something in a plastic bag. As she bent down to switch the TV on she says a bullet went through her front window and over her head.
Police later confirmed that an airgun had been used in the attack.
Ironically Mrs Shafique moved out of Oldham after suffering racist abuse there in the hope that conditions in Rochdale would be better.
She said: "Things are even worse here. I get called a grass and informer and a Paki bitch by these racists. Every single day I get abuse just because I'm a Muslim and I'm married to an Asian man. They think they can keep me a prisoner in my own home, but I'm not giving up without a fight, I'm not about to change my religion or my dress because of some racists."
Mrs Shafique says she has asked her landlord, Ashiana Housing Association, to move her several times.
"Ashiana always say there are no houses and if I'm that desperate to move I can go private.”
She added: "We are both disabled people and all this abuse is too much for us. If nothing is done about my situation, the police will be carrying two dead bodies out of here."
Spokesperson for Ashiana, Tahir Idris said they were trying their best to help Mrs Shafique and that she was offered alternative accommodation but that she refused it because it did not meet her medical needs.
Mr Idris said one resident who had been identified as causing a "nuisance" had been served with a notice threatening repossession.
He added: "Ashiana takes the issues that Mrs Shafique alleges very seriously indeed.
"Our normal course of action is to respond immediately to serious incidents, to investigate and to act in dealing with perpetrators swiftly and re-house if appropriate."
A spokesman for Rochdale police said they were doing all they could for Mrs Shafique.
He added they one difficutly was that she had not been able to identify the individuals who are attacking her.

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