Muslims in Dundee are being abused by thugs blaming them for the Paris terror attacks, it has been claimed.
Faisal Hussein, project manager of the Yusuf Youth Initiative, said there has been an upsurge in Islamophobic incidents since the November 13 atrocities and that most of the victims have been women.
He said it is usually men who approach their victims, blaming them for attacks carried out by Islamist extremists.
“I know absolutely of about five or six incidents that have happened in Dundee,” he said.
“There are people who have talked to me about it but don’t want to report it to the police because they fear there might be reprisals.
“It has been mostly verbal but some of it is slightly physical a small push or someone making a threatening move to push or coming up to the person so they have to move away.
“It’s generally adult males responsible but they are going after females. Whether it’s racial or not racial, that is just not right.”
He said that women who have been approached have been wearing headscarves and Mr Hussein said he is now becoming concerned for the safety of Muslim women travelling alone.
A spokesman for Tayside Polce said: “We are always concerned about under-reporting of crime in general, especially hate crime when it affects particular groups in the community.
“We continue to speak to local Muslim communities and strive to provide support to individuals and groups particularly at the present time when we are conscious that additional reassurance may be welcomed.
“Individuals who target people who are different to them should be in no doubt that this is completely unacceptable and such incidents will be dealt with in the strongest terms.”