A Muslim woman living in Northern Ireland says nowhere feels safe for many families after recent racist attacks. Jane, not her real name, says rising Islamophobia means parents are afraid to bring their children to play parks during the summer holidays. Similar fears have been expressed by a Nigeria-born community worker in Belfast, Israel Eguaogie.
He said a summer scheme in the city had to be cancelled for security reasons. There have been a series of attacks since violence erupted after protests in Belfast city centre on Saturday. Jane, who wears a hijab, told BBC News NI nowhere felt safe any more.
“The prominent narrative has been against Muslims but it’s also people who are visibly different," she said. “Visible minorities - whether that’s black families, Asian families, anyone with a different skin colour, different accent - I think are thinking twice today about where they’re going to take their children ..
. even to the park. “Even in the small regional towns that we haven’t heard so much about there’s been added graffiti, there’s been things said, there’s been maybe comments made that have just made people a little concerned .
.. is there anywhere safe in Northern Ireland?" Jane said some families were considering moving to Scotland, Wales or parts of England where there has not been unrest in recent days.
She said there had been an escalation in racism in Northern Ireland in recent months, not just the past week. At the same time, she said she had.