Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham speaks out against an incidence of hate crime in our borough.
I am deeply troubled and concerned about the hate crime targeting the Stratford Islamic Centre Mosque, with a hateful and Islamophobic slogan daubed on the building yesterday morning.
As soon as the Council was alerted by the police, officers rapidly moved to remove the offensive word. As the criminal investigation continues to find the perpetrators of this hate crime, the Police are increasing patrols in the area with the support of the Council’s Community Safety teams who are providing dedicated patrols today, including a dedicated patrol car to visit all mosques in our borough over the weekend as part of our reassurance to our Muslim communities; and our CCTV operators will be undertaking extra vigilance as well.
I understand that this hate crime will have made many members of our valued faith communities anxious and concerned, and that is why I have written to a faith leaders Newham to reassure them that we are taking this incident very seriously.
Islamophobia will not be tolerated in our borough and there is no place for hate in Newham.
