Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘Bullied’ Syrian teen set to join new Yorkshire school

by LAUREN CODLING

A SYRIAN refugee boy who was bullied and “waterboarded” at a Huddersfield school will relocate to a different institute in west Yorkshire, a lawyer representing him confirmed last week.


It was further announced that the boy’s family would pursue legal action against far-right activist Tommy Robinson after he “published lies” about their son, alleging the 15-year-old had been bullying female students at the school.

Last month, a video of the teenager, known only as Jamal, went viral, after it showed him being attacked by another student.

He has apparently suffered at the hands of bullies for two years since he moved to Huddersfield with his family.

There has been an outpouring of support for the student, including an online funding page which raised £158,089 to support Jamal and his family.

Last week, Eastern Eye spoke to Tasnime Akunjee, the lawyer representing Jamal and his family.

Revealing the family were coping “okay,” Akunjee confirmed that they were planning to relocate to a different area in west Yorkshire.

The family were taking time to make sure Jamal and his sister would be placed in a school which would be suitable for them.

Akunjee said he was in the process of collecting evidence against Ukip advisor Robinson,

who falsely accused Jamal of bullying his fellow students.

In another video – which also went viral – Robinson claimed the teenager had attacked

two schoolgirls.

When Akunjee wrote to Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, to inform him that legal action was being pursued against him, the English Defence League (EDL) founder apparently admitted it was fake news.

“Mr Yaxley-Lennon, rather than offer sympathy for a child victim or just stay quiet, took

the opportunity to publish lies about Jamal,” Akunjee said.

“He has attempted to create a racial division and has taken it upon himself to destroy and counter the narrative of this whole story.”

As Eastern Eye went to press on Tuesday (11), it was further reported that Robinson had been threatened with legal action after he posted a video identifying and interviewing the boy accused of bullying Jamal.

The alleged perpetrator has been reported for summons for an offence of assault ahead of a youth court appearance.

Admitting he had received death threats from Robinson’s supporters, Akunjee said the EDL founder’s involvement had made the situation “much more dangerous”.

“Stirring up bad feelings from the right wing toward a child is very scary for the child and the family involved,” he said.

The news comes as it was revealed that the number of pupils being excluded for racial bullying has risen.

Analysis by The Guardian showed that there were 4,590 cases of racial abuse among school students last year which warranted fixed or permanent exclusion, an increase from 2016, with 4,085 incidents.

Figures released by charity Childline last year revealed there had been more than 2,500 counselling sessions in the last three years about racial and faith-based bullying.

A variety of minority children, including those from a Muslim, Black and Sikh background, were among those who have contacted the helpline about the issue.

Commenting on the latest racial bullying figures, Akunjee said there was a “definite societal problem across the board in terms of a general rise of intolerance”.

“There has been a huge increase in hate crime in one year,” he added, referring to the latest Home Office statistics which showed there were 94,098 hate crime offences recorded

by police in England and Wales, 76 per cent of which were racially aggravated.

Chris Keates, the general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, said the “disturbing” rise of exclusions related to racial bullying showed these instances have become a “daily fact of life for far too many black and minority ethnic pupils and teachers”.

In response to the attack on Jamal, the home secretary Sajid Javid revealed he was also bullied due to his Asian heritage while at school and “punched to the ground”.

“When I was 11 at comprehensive school, I had a very similar incident and those memories flooded back to me,” he said.

Admitting that racist language was directed at him during his school years, Javid said he was surprised the UK had not moved forward.

“I really felt for the young boy who was involved [in the video],” he added.

More For You

Police officers

Police officers stand guard between an anti fascist group and Tommy Robinson supporters during an anti-immigration rally organised by British anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, in London, Britain, September 13, 2025.

REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

UK defends France migrant returns deal after court blocks first removal

THE British government has defended its new migrant returns deal with France after a High Court ruling temporarily blocked the deportation of an Eritrean asylum seeker, marking an early legal setback to the scheme.

The 25-year-old man, who arrived in Britain on a small boat from France on August 12, was due to be placed on an Air France flight from Heathrow to Paris on Wednesday (17) morning. But on Tuesday (16), Judge Clive Sheldon granted an interim injunction, saying there was a “serious issue to be tried” over his claim to be a victim of trafficking.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

Dr Amal Bose. (Photo: Lancashire Police)

Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

AN ASIAN senior heart surgeon, who abused his position to sexually assault female members of staff, has been jailed for six years.

Dr Amal Bose, from Lancaster, was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault against five colleagues at Blackpool Victoria Hospital between 2017 and 2022. He was cleared of two other charges.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

Trump greets Modi on 75th birthday, trade talks continue in Delhi

Highlights:

  • Both leaders reaffirm commitment to India-US partnership
  • Trade talks resume in New Delhi amid tariff tensions
  • India defends purchase of discounted Russian oil

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday called Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and greeted him ahead of his 75th birthday. The phone call sparked hopes of a reset in India-US ties, which had been under strain after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vantara

The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles. (Photo: Instagram/Vantara)

India court probe clears Ambani family’s animal centre

AN INDIAN Supreme Court-ordered investigation has cleared a large private animal facility run by the son of Asia’s richest man, rejecting allegations of wildlife violations.

Vantara, described as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre,” is operated by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Keep ReadingShow less