Teenage boy said my dad’s a terrorist

SHAZIA’S STORY

BY MARIA CROCE A MUSLIM teacher suffered depression after pupils accused her of being a terrorist.

Shazia – not her real name – amost gave up her career because of Islamophobic abuse.

But the supply teacher was heartened after police took her complaints seriously.

She said: “We shouldn’t have to tolerate this abuse – it’s not acceptable.”

Mum-of-three Shazia, 33, said the abuse has worsened every time there’s been a terrorist attack in the news.

She added: “In 2015 after the attacks in Paris, I had children in the classroom questioning me and asking if all Muslims are terrorists and was I a terrorist.

“They’d say ‘Allahu Akbar’ behind my back. They were boys around 12 to 14 years old.

“That time I wasn’t supported by my school or council and I felt quite isolated.”

In another school, a boy wrote in his jotter: “Mr Trump will bomb you and kill you” and “Bin Laden is your dad”.

Shazia said: “That had a significant impact on me. I had a massive anxiety attack and burst into tears when I got to the staff room.”

She even stopped using public transport as she didn’t feel safe after someone made a rude gesture to her on a train.

But she is back working with support from Central Scotland Regional Equality Council.

She added: “I feel more empowered that I can report it if someone says something wrong.” ● If you witness a hate crime, call your local police (101, 999) or report it online. ●To report an incident anonymously, there are third party reporting centres across Scotland www.scotland.police.uk/ contact-us/hate-crimeand-third-party-reporting/ third-party-reportingcentres or visit onescotland.org