'You're ni**ers and black dogs,' family told
Fatume Shabal said she has been abused and harassed by a racist neighbour. Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald Sun
Fatume Shabal said she has been abused and harassed by a racist neighbour. Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald Sun
- Ethiopian family taunted for eight years
- Mother-of-seven reduced to tears over attacks
- Family appeals to move out of area ignored
THE Office of Housing has been accused of ignoring a migrant family's alleged eight-year ordeal at the hands of a racist and abusive neighbour.
Documents presented to Melbourne Magistrates' Court allege the neighbour threatened to shoot an African man living below his Richmond commission flat and regularly swore at his children, calling them niggers.
The alleged victim's wife, Ethiopian mother of seven Fatume Shabal, was reduced to tears when describing the daily abuse and threats that she said had turned the family's pursuit of a better life in Australia into a nightmare.
Every day he is yelling at my children 'black dogs, black dogs' and he starts banging on his floor with a hammer early in the morning, Ms Shabal said.
The Sunday Herald Sun heard audio recordings allegedly revealing the man abusing the family.
Ms Shabal said the OoH had ignored pleas to move the family away, despite a magistrate granting an intervention order banning the man from approaching the family or going within five metres of its flat.
The 2006 order has since expired.
I complain to the police when he comes to my door and they move him on and I used to complain to the OoH and security every day but nothing ever happens and for three months now I just shut my mouth, she said.
OoH spokesman Brendan Ryan said the department had not received a complaint from the family since 2007.
However, the local office has made contact with the family this week to establish any unresolved issues, Mr Ryan said.
He also rejected claims the department had ignored the family's pleas to move away from the neighbour, saying an alternative flat had been offered.
In all communities, tensions between residents sometimes occur, but if we can establish a case of racial vilification, such evidence will form part of any action to evict at VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal), Mr Ryan said.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/menaced-by-racist/story-e6frfkvr-1225911370119
This is so disgusting - but unfortunately, I'm not surprised at all.
It just seems to be how it works among some people in this country. Anyone who is of a different race to them is somehow 'sub-human'.
It just doesn't make sense to me...
