Unionist anti-Muslim hysteria fuels attacks on families

THE HYSTERICAL HEADLINES of the British press – echoing the rabid Islamophobia of the British right-wing and closet fascists – has become a central theme of ultra-loyalists in the Six Counties, leading to ongoing violent attacks on the homes of migrant families, including petrol-bombings. And attacks are increasing against non-Muslim immigrants as well.

In Antrim town, Subi Philip was woken by “a big, big bang” when the car parked outside her daughters' bedroom exploded in flames. She rushed to the girls', aged 8 and 10, room to find them screaming, “We're going to die,” such was their terror.

Ms Philip, a cardiac nurse in Antrim Area Hospital, was alone with her daughters when the arson attack was launched as her husband was home in India at a family funeral.

The attack on the Philip home was not the first such attack in the Antrim area in recent weeks.

On Tuesday 18 November, the Ballymena home of Amin and Margaret Ibrahim was petrol-bombed, leading Sinn Féin's Daithí McKay to call for more security and protection for Muslim families “before someone in burnt to death”.

Meanwhile, the home of a Greek woman at North King Street, near the Shankill Road, was targeted on Wednesday 2 December. This was the second attack on the woman's home.

These attacks are happening against a backdrop of anti-Muslim sentiment being stoked up by unionist politicians and the Protestant Coalition.

Despite heavy criticism from human rights groups, Protestant Churches and community organisations, the Protestant Coalition – made up of malcontents surrounding Union flag protester Willie Frazer (pictured) – went ahead with an “anti-refugee/terrorist” rally at Belfast City Hall on Saturday 5 December.

Only a couple of dozen supporters – some with links to loyalist paramilitary groups and the fascist British National Party – turned up and they were heavily outnumbered by an anti-fascist counter-demonstration. However, the fact remains that, since the Paris killings on 13 November attributed to the Islamic State, unionist spokespersons have been trumpeting blatantly Islamophobic remarks and stoking race hatred.

The North Antrim Ulster Political Research Group (sic), which is aligned to the UDA, has through its website likened Muslims to rabid dogs. The site (which constantly targets young GAA members and describes the GAA as “the sporting wing of the IRA”) has since been removed.

Expressing similar views at a UKIP conference in the North, local leader David McNarry branded refugees as “terrorists”, adding:

“We cannot live with other people's terrorists. Nor should we be expected to provide work for other people's unemployed when local workers are loosing their jobs or provide homes when young couples languish on housing lists for years.”

With the first Syrian refugees due to arrive in the North on 15 December and reports suggesting that none will be housed in east Belfast, where UVF-inspired attacks on people from ethnic minority groups are frequent, the PSNI has announced it has set up a special team to combat racist and anti-Muslim violence.