Muslim school teacher threatened in Woodford Green following EU vote

An EU flag is raised over dagenham Civic Centre Archant

A Muslim school teacher said she was stopped in the street and told she would be forced to leave Britain following last week’s historic referendum vote.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

The secondary school teacher, who was wearing a hijab, said a stranger told her “you’re next” and that all Muslims would be forced to leave, just hours after the country voted to leave the European Union (EU).

And on Tuesday, a Sikh builder was sworn at and told to leave by a van of people in Ilford who mentioned the referendum.

The woman said she was shocked by the incident, at 7.50am on Friday in St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green.

She said: “I was on my way to school and I stopped because I needed to get something out of my bag. He was British and in his late thirties.

“He looked well dressed in a shirt and trousers, he looked like he was on his way to work.”

After the man stopped her, the woman, from Woodford Green, said he warned her all Muslims would be forced to leave the country.

She said: “He came up to me and said ‘you’re next. You know that’.”

“I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, I honestly thought he might be telling me about a bus coming.

“Then he said: ‘You know that we voted out. You are next to go.’ ‘We’ll be getting rid of the problem caused by the likes of you’.”

The teacher said she was saddened by the incident, which she reported to the police and Tell Mama, a charity which monitors anti-Muslim incidents.

She said: “I do believe this is linked to the referendum result.

“A lot of the Leave campaign was focused on immigration and I do think that contributed.

“I’ve heard of other incidents and I don’t think so many people would have said these things prior to the referendum.”

Speaking to the Recorder, Redbridge Council leader Cllr Athwal said he was shocked by the reports.

“We are first and foremost citizens of the borough. We are all equal,” he said.

“I have lived here for 46 years and relations across communities have got so much better. It’s a great place.

“We have got to stand in solidarity to show we are very proud of our community and relationships across it.”

Harun Khan, a trustee at Redbridge Islamic Centre and deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he was saddened by the “unusual” incident.

He said: “Generally people are on high alert, there is a lot of uncertainty.

“This incident is very unusual for Redbridge, which is very multi-faith and most people get on.

“When you hear about incidents like this, it’s very concerning.”

He invited people to join Eid prayers in Valentines Park, Ilford, as a show of solidarity from 8.30am on Tuesday or Wednesday.