19th June 2014
The Muslim Council of Britain is dismayed to learn that a Muslim woman has been stabbed to death in the early hours of Tuesday morning on the outskirts of Colchester.
The 30-year-old woman, who was walking on the Salary Brook Trail in Essex, was said to be wearing a blue Abaya and a Hijab. There are reports that she was violently beaten and stabbed, and was pronounced dead on the scene after paramedics tried to resuscitate her.
In its statement, Essex police have said:
“We are conscious that the dress of the victim will have identified her as likely being a Muslim and this is one of the main lines of the investigation but again there is no firm evidence at this time that she was targeted because of her religion.”
Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said:
“It is absolutely shocking to hear of this horrific murder. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.”
“With the current hostile atmosphere against Muslims in certain parts of our national conversation, there is a heightened fear that this murder may have been motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. This was underscored by a recent report which suggested that Muslim women are repeated victims of anti-Muslim hate. While this fear is understandable, we must allow the police investigation to run its course.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family at this difficult time”.
[ends]
Notes to Editors:
The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over
500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques,
charities and schools.
For further information please contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
media@mcb.org.uk
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