Racist attacks in Saltdean

Someone I know has sent me this disturbing news from Saltdean.

A Muslim family that has lived in Saltdean for over twenty years has been subject to a sustained campaign of racist and religious abuse. The Deghayes's home and family have been attacked, verbally and physically. The children, especially two twins in Year 8, are regularly called "Paki" and also "terrorist". This leads to fights at school and Saltdean Oval (the park). There are also many small acts, such as having water thrown over them in the school canteen at lunch, that have been going on for almost two years.

On Friday 11th September at 11.30 pm a gang of youths, boys and girls, smashed the front window of the Deghayes house and the windscreen of their car. They were in the garden for some time. They used bottles, bricks and stones to break the windows. The police have yet to charge anyone in relation to this.

The abuse is not unconnected to the fact that a family member, Omar Deghayes, was held for several years in Guantanamo Bay before being released in late 2007.

Brighton is a Peace Messenger City, and the local Peace Messenger Group has organised a public meeting on Thursday 24 September at 7.30 pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Steyning Rd, Rottingdean. [NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE IF YOU HAVE SEEN A PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT]. Buses 27, 12 and 14 stop on the seafront at Rottingdean: walk up the High Street and take the first right into Steyning Rd. The entrance to the Church Hall is about 50 yards up on the left. The number 2 bus will also take you there, but it takes ages via Woodingdean.

Please attend if you can, or maybe you can help in other ways. For more information, please contact Jackie Chase (Peace Messenger contact) on 07759 564 620.