PA MediaA mother-of-three has said she is “hesitant and worried” for her children’s safety after recent protests and racist disorder in Northern Ireland.
Faiza Ahmed, who lives in Bangor, is part of a group of 400 Muslim women across Northern Ireland that wrote a letter to Education Minister Paul Givan with concerns.
“As mothers we were worried, we have young children and soon they will be going to school and we are worried about their safety, they are worried about their safety,” she told BBC News NI.
Mr Givan said risk assessments are being carried out at schools near to recent protests and racist disorder in Belfast.
It follows recent racist disorder in Belfast which saw many ethnic minority owned businesses attacked.
The Muslim Mothers Collective wrote to Mr Givan to say they were “deeply concerned” following the incidents.
A number of people, including under 18s, have since been charged in connection to the disorder.
Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster, Ms Ahmed said some parents were hesitant to send their children to school.
“We are not sure whether they will be safe or not,” she said.
“The children themselves are looking forward to going back to school, because we are not sure whether they will be safe or not.”
Ms Ahmed said the summer months were “terrible” due to the disorder.
“We could not go out because we were worried and this is the time when we thought we were going to spend with our children,” she added.
“I have only been in Bangor for a year, so this was my opportunity to make memories, but after the events we couldn’t do that.”
She said her youngest child was starting school on Wednesday.
“I’m a little bit anxious, as she was leaving this morning she said to me: ’Mum is it safe?’.
“I said it should be safe and she says ‘you know what the first thing I will do when I get to school is to hug my friends’.
“It is very difficult, our children should be safe, they should be children, it’s not their duty to look into their security, it’s not their responsibility.”
PA Media‘We were worried’
In a letter to Democratic Unionist Party politician Mr Givan, the Muslim Mothers Collective said they had been shocked by the intensity of recent events.
They requested “strong assurances” their children will be safe when they return to school, and that schools take “proactive measures to prevent racist and Islamophobic bullying”.
In response, the minister set out plans including risk assessments.
He said his department was working with principals to identify schools that “may be vulnerable dependent on location, school cohort (i.e high numbers of newcomers) and nature of building”.
Mr Givan acknowledged “recent events may make it more difficult for children from ethnic minority communities” to be happy, learning and succeeding at school.
In response, Mr Givan of the Democratic Unionist Party said his department was involved with the Education Authority carrying out risk assessments “on a number of schools located close to recent unrest and protests”.
He added they were working with principals to identify schools that “may be vulnerable dependent on location, school cohort (i.e high numbers of newcomers) and nature of building”.
“Where necessary, maintenance work will be prioritised as well as guidance provided on managing emergency incidents,” he said.
The minister also said officials were working with Translink to “reinforce transport guidance and the need for reasonable adjustments for potentially vulnerable pupils”.
Mr Givan said he hoped his response would assure the Muslim Mothers Collective that the department would ensure schools were “safe for all children within our community, irrespective of race or religion” and added he would be happy to meet with them to discuss their concerns.
Ms Ahmed said she thought it was a “good response” from Mr Givan, but that it was important it delivered.
“It gives us some reassurance that at least someone is looking into the matter, but again the real test is in the results, is it going to work..is it going to address the issues on the ground?”
