Police called as man targeted family who had just finished prayers at mosque in Wirral
14:01, 31 May 2025Updated 14:47, 31 May 2025
Ibrahim Syed, co-ordinator Liverpool Region Mosque Network.
A dad has told how his teenage sons were subjected to vile racist abuse from a man who went on to expose himself.
Ibrahim Syed, a well known figure in Merseyside’s Muslim community, had been at prayers with his family at the Wirral Deen Centre on Friday afternoon when the incident happened. Just after 2pm Mr Syed’s two sons – aged 13 and 17 – were stood outside the mosque and community centre when a man walking past began shouting at them.
He told the ECHO: “We had just finished prayers and my boys were outside when a man walked past and started shouting at them. He was calling them black c****. At this point I came out and he was shouting that at me as well.
“He was saying ‘this is my country’ and so I told him this is our country as well. Two people who were passing by challenged him and asked him what he was doing and at that point he pulled down his trousers and showed us his backside.”
Mr Syed – who is the co-ordinator for the Liverpool Region Mosque Network and spearheads lots of initiatives aimed at community cohesion and understanding – contacted the police who arrived on the scene and took statements.
Speaking about the impact of the incident, he said: “I think unless you experience racism, then you might not know it exists. It does hurt.
Ibrahim Syed said a man pulled down his trousers after launching a tirade of abuse at him and his children
“I posted about the incident on social media to raise awareness and unfortunately I have heard from many people who have experienced similar things.”
Mr Syed said he believes issues of racism have been on the rise in the country for some time now. He said: “It is not just incidents like this, we see more subtle, unconscious things in everyday life. A more unconscious form of racism.
“Sadly these sentiments are on the rise. We must do more to foster understanding, harmony and peace.”
Having shared his experience on social media, Mr Syed and his family have received an outpouring of support. On Facebook, Alice Ja said: “I am so sorry, you don’t deserve this and neither does your family.”
Lin Edgington said: “This makes me sick. I’m so sorry you and your family have been subjected to this. Please be reassured that he does not speak for the majority of decent people in this area.”
Ebony-Joy Morgan added: “Oh this is awful, I am so sorry this happened to you and your two sons.”
Merseyside Police were contacted for comment. To report hate crime, contact police on 101 – but always ring 999 in an emergency. Merseyside’s Police Commissioner funds national charity Stop Hate UK to deliver a pan-Merseyside 24/7 helpline for all victims of hate crime. If you don’t want to call the police, for any reason, Stop Hate UK can provide extra support.
Stop Hate UK is available 24 hours a day. The helpline is confidential and independent.
You can report a hate crime by Telephone on 0800 138 1625, text to 07717 989 025, text relay: 18001 0113 293 5100 or via webchat at www.stophateuk.org/talk.