Anti-Islamic graffiti scrawled on bridge
OFFENSIVE MESSAGES ‘A SIGN OF REAL RISE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA’
Reporter “VILE” Islamophobic graffiti on the High Level Bridge has prompted an outcry.
Over the past week, anti-Islamic messages have been appearing on the pedestrian walkway of the busy cross-Tyne route.
The offensive slogans were reported to Gateshead Council on social media, with someone posting a picture of the message “Muslims Jump Here”.
The Twitter user said: “Loads of this vile racist graffiti on the high level bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead – other slogans included “Katie Hopkins for PM” and “F*** Islam”. @NewcastleCC @GMBCouncil you might want to sort this out asap.”
The council replied by saying: “At a loss for words... Thanks for reporting, we’ll get someone out there as soon as we can.”
A spokesperson told The Chronicle the graffiti was removed “as soon as it was brought to our attention” on Wednesday morning.
But a Newcastle councillor has warned that the graffiti is a sign of “the real rise of Islamophobia”.
Dipu Ahad said he had been made aware of the messages by people in the local community.
“There has been a lot of upset about it, and it’s making an already vulnerable community feel more vulnerable.
“This isn’t just stupid – everyone knows that bridge and these messages have been placed there strategically.
“They know exactly what they’re doing putting hate messages on a busy route. “It’s absolutely disgraceful, it’s not just about graffiti, it’s about the whole issue of targeting certain communities.” Coun Ahad said the Newcastle and Gateshead communities need to “start working together” to tackle the issue. “There needs to be some sort of conversation about the rise of Islamophobia – it is real and it’s not being talked about enough. “It’s a problem and it needs to be stamped out.” Dipu Ahad