Mayor was reduced to tears by racist abuse

Council hears Muslim women and girls afraid to go out as ‘territorial flying of flags’ faces criticism

- BY MARK SMITH

Councillor Sherin Akhtar, Lord Mayor of Chester

(Topher McGrillis)

THE Lord Mayor of Chester was reduced to tears after revealing she had been racially abused on an official visit, while a senior councillor revealed how he had been branded a ‘supporter of genocide’ while heading to a council meeting.

A meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Full Council voted to back a cross-party motion reaffirming its commitment to community cohesion and interfaith collaboration.

During the meeting, community leaders and councillors spoke about what they said had been a ‘worrying’ rise in incidents across the borough.

Zeba Salam, of Chester Muslim Sisters Association, told councillors Muslim women and girls were ‘afraid’ to go out and singled out what she called the ‘territorial flying of flags’ as having ‘emboldened’ some of the people committing such acts.

She said: “We're deeply concerned about the increase in unauthorized flags being flown across Cheshire West and Chester. Let me be clear, we all respect freedom of expression and value true patriotism. But in recent months, all these displays have shifted from symbols of pride to tools of division and intimidation.”

She told members: “Many women and children in our community have told us they no longer feel safe going out. They have endured racist comments, harassment and even attacks.