UN urges UK to end xenophobic attacks after Brexit vote

The United Nations (UN) has raised the alarm as a series of racist incidents against minorities and foreigners were reported in the United Kingdom (UK) following the country’s decision to leave the European Union (EU).

UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said on Tuesday that “racism and xenophobia are unacceptable in any circumstances” around the world, Al-Jazeera.

“I urge the UK authorities to act to stop these xenophobic attacks and to ensure that all those suspected of racist and anti-foreigner attacks and abuses are prosecuted,” Hussein said.

“All of us must refuse to tolerate discriminatory acts in our daily lives – to ensure that there is nothing ‘everyday’ about discrimination.”

Violence, intimidation and calls of “Go home” directed at minorities – from Europeans in England to non-white Britons – have surged since the referendum last Friday.

The Muslim Council of Britain has compiled social media reports of more than 100 racist incidents since Thursday, when a majority of Britons voted for exiting the EU.

In the latest incident, widely reported on social media on Tuesday, three young British men in Manchester were caught on video shouting racist abuse against an American tram passenger, calling him “little f**king immigrant” and demanding that he “get off the f**king tram now. Get back to Africa”.