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10<br />
testify November 2016<br />
Hate crime victim forced to flee his home after<br />
converting to Christianity<br />
Nissar Hussain, his wife, and their six children<br />
have been forced to flee their home<br />
in Bradford, West Yorkshire under police<br />
guard after years of persecution for converting<br />
to Christianity.<br />
Mr Hussain was hospitalised after he was<br />
physically attacked by two men who, armed<br />
with a pick-axe, left him severely injured<br />
with a smashed kneecap because he had<br />
converted from Islam to Christianity.<br />
Although he converted from Islam 20 years<br />
ago, Nissar Hussain is still subject to physical<br />
and verbal attack. Last week, he and<br />
his family were forced to leave their home<br />
in Bradford under police escort to a safe<br />
house.<br />
“My family are distraught and extremely<br />
traumatised to be leaving. But when your<br />
life is at stake, there is no other choice.” Mr<br />
Hussain added that the harassment and<br />
violence escalated after he appeared on a<br />
Channel 4 documentary voiced concerns<br />
about the mistreatment of Muslim converts.<br />
By Jane Amaka<br />
Nissar Hussain and family<br />
He points the finger at sections of the Islamic<br />
community: ‘this extreme persecution<br />
by certain people in the Muslim community<br />
because we are converts has broken us as<br />
a family.’<br />
Mr Hussain, who was a nurse before leaving<br />
work due to post-traumatic stress disorder,<br />
says his children, aged eight to 24, and<br />
wife will never see their friends again.<br />
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said<br />
hate crime would not be tolerated and officers<br />
have been working with the family.<br />
Nissar Hussain in hospital after armed men with a pick-axe,<br />
left him with a smashed kneecap.<br />
Above and below: CCTV footage of the attack.<br />
Nissar was attacked outside his home.<br />
“Our priority has always<br />
been to work effectively<br />
with our partners to minimise<br />
the risk to Mr Hussain<br />
and ensure that we<br />
maximise opportunities<br />
to put control measures<br />
in place to safeguard<br />
him, his family, and consider<br />
any wider impact<br />
upon the communities<br />
across West Yorkshire.”<br />
Nissar Hussain, since<br />
his conversion to Christianity,<br />
has faced real<br />
persecution here in<br />
Britain. He currently<br />
receives support from<br />
Christian Concern, an<br />
organisation that offers<br />
support to Christians<br />
persecuted because of<br />
their faith. Prior to the<br />
attack, Christian Concern<br />
provided Nissar<br />
with a CCTV camera to<br />
help protect his property.
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