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Fear and anxiety grip Malaysians in riot-hit UK

  • A Sheffield resident said she does not feel safe going out as there were cases in which those with the hijab were attacked by far-right groups

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A masked protester throws a can of beer towards riot police in Bristol, southern England, on August 3. Photo: AFP

The Malaysian community in the United Kingdom has been gripped with fear and anxiety in the midst of the riots there.

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Rahmah Ghazali, who lives in Sheffield, said the place has always been a multicultural city, known as the City of Sanctuary as it houses thousands of asylum seekers and immigrants.

However, Rahmah, 33, said she does not feel safe going out, as there were cases in which those with the hijab were attacked by anti-immigration demonstrators.

“I live in a mixed area, so going to the local shops is not a problem, but I will try to avoid going into the city centre.

“I won’t lie because there is always fear for our safety. In Middlesbrough, we saw drivers being attacked by thugs who did not let them go through,” the writer said on Monday.

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She added that a riot was about to take place in the city centre on Sunday afternoon, but this was thwarted by counterprotesters who gathered there much earlier.

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