A highly disturbing video, which emerged on social media showing a 15-year-old Syrian refugee being aggressively thrown to the ground and ‘waterboarded’ by another schoolboy, has sparked outrage.
The footage seems to show a schoolboy in a blue jumper walking up to the victim, who has one arm in a plaster cast, shouting racial slurs at the Syrian refugee, before grabbing him by the neck and sending him to the ground. The bully then pours water all over his face as he keeps him pinned down by his neck – shouting “I'll drown you.”
The harrowing clip, which has gone viral, was posted on social media by Mohammed Khan, who was dismayed that anybody could commit such a shocking act on the 15-year-old refugee, whose name is said to be Jamal, according to the Huddersfield Examiner.
Police say they have launched an investigation into an allegation of racist bullying after a huge backlash to the mobile phone footage. The incident is thought to have taken place on the playing fields of a school in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October.
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Huddersfield’s Labour MP Barry Sheerman has taken to social media to voice his horror, saying he had been supporting the teenager's family. He tweeted: “Video of assault against one of my constituents absolutely shocking. Have been supporting the family since it was first brought to my attention.”
Others such as Islamic educator, Qasim Rashid, claim that racist attacks such as these are the direct consequence of the media and politicians demonizing marginalized groups, such as refugees.
Superintendent Steve Dodds, of West Yorkshire Police Kirklees District, said: “We are investigating a report of a racially-aggravated assault of a 15-year-old boy which occurred on playing fields at Almondbury Community School at about 1pm on October 25.
“A 16-year-old boy has been interviewed by voluntary attendance in connection with the incident and we are continuing to progress the investigation.”
Within hours of the video being shared, a fundraising page for Jamal was launched which has so far raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Syrian refugee.
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