Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Racism in schools on the rise since attacks in London and Manchester

by Lauren Codling

'More Muslim children abused since terror attack'


Children as young as nine are being branded terrorists following the spate of recent terror attacks across the UK, Childline has revealed.

The 24-hour counselling service, offered to young children in need, reported that children saying that the "bullying has [intensified]" following the most recent atrocities.

Muslim children said they endured name-calling from other children, who associate them with Daesh (Islamic State).

One girl, 15, said "the boys in my class [call] me a 'terrorist' but my teachers do nothing about it."

There have been accusations of race-related violence, including young girls being targeted when they have worn traditional headscarves and hijabs.

Some youngsters said the constant abuse has made them contemplate self-harm, counsellors who work for the charity said.

There have been more than 2,500 counselling sessions in the past three years relating to racial and faith-based bullying, with some victims of abuse being as young as nine years old, Childline said.

A 12-year-old boy said "people make racist comments to me…[they] shouldn't just assume that just because someone is Muslim they are a terrorist."

Children of Jewish, Christian and Sikh backgrounds have also been affected by the abuse.

Since the Manchester terror attacks in May, Childline has held nearly 300 counselling sessions with children who have had concerns about terrorism.

And following terrorist attacks, such as the Westminster bridge attack in March and the Paris terror attack in 2015, the number of calls they received has significantly increased, the charity said.

Childline president and founder, Dame Esther Rantzen, said: "When these [terrorist] events happen, we adults are so often overwhelmed with horror, we sometimes forget about the children watching too. It's crucial adults are aware of this issue and protect those who may be targeted."

Linda Toft, a spokeswoman for the NSPCC, said bullying "can have devastating effects that last into adulthood. It can lead to mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. At worst, it can lead to self-harm or even suicide."

The NSPCC has offered advice to parents, urging them to talk to their children about bullying as it can leave them feeling "withdrawn and isolated."

More For You

JLR-Tata-Getty

JLR had initially planned to manufacture more than 70,000 electric vehicles at the facility. (Photo: Getty Images)

JLR halts plan to build EVs at Tata’s India plant: Report

JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has put on hold plans to manufacture electric vehicles at Tata Motors’ upcoming £775 million factory in southern India, according to a news report.

The decision was influenced by challenges in balancing price and quality for locally sourced EV components, three of the sources said. They added that slowing demand for electric vehicles was also a factor.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

Sarju Khushal

Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

A MAN who supplied controlled drugs on a ‘wholesale’ scale across Leicestershire has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Sarju Khushal, 30, was arrested in 2022 after investigations revealed he had been transporting drugs from Lancashire into the area.

Khushal, formerly of Hazeldene Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to several charges, including the supply and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced at Leicester crown court last Thursday (6).

Keep ReadingShow less
Tamil Nadu Education

Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people

Getty images

Education or imposition? Tamil Nadu battles India government over Hindi in schools

A war of words has erupted between Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin and the federal government over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends a three-language formula in schools, with two of the three being native to India. Stalin has voiced strong objections, claiming that the policy could lead to the imposition of Hindi, a northern Indian language, in non-Hindi-speaking states like Tamil Nadu. The issue has reignited old tensions between southern states and the central government over the privileging of Hindi.

Historical resistance to Hindi

Tamil Nadu has a deep-rooted history of opposing the promotion of Hindi, dating back to the 1960s. Protests broke out in the state when the federal government attempted to make Hindi the sole official language, leading to a compromise that allowed the continued use of English. Language in Tamil Nadu is not merely a means of communication but a powerful symbol of cultural identity. Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people. As a result, any perceived threat to its prominence is met with strong resistance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire enters House of Lords as Baroness

Thangam Debbonaire

Former Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire enters House of Lords as Baroness

FORMER Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire has taken her seat in the House of Lords after being awarded a life peerage last month.

The 58-year-old, who represented Bristol West for Labour from 2015 until July’s general election, wore the traditional scarlet robes during her introductory ceremony. She will now be known as Baroness Debbonaire of De Beauvoir Town in the London Borough of Hackney.

Keep ReadingShow less