Guest blog by Mohamed Tarraf, CSC research intern:
Mohammed Al-Majed, an English language student from Qatar has been murdered in Hastings, East Sussex, in what appears to be a racially motivated attack.
He and his friends were ganged-up on by drunken youths as the group made their way home after socialising at a local take away restaurant.
They were beaten and pelted with glass bottles by a group of youths, who stamped repeatedly on Majed's head before leaving him for dead.
Fellow students and friends of Majed who also suffered injuries from the attack said the killers shouted racist abuse during the assault.
"They called me Saddam Hussain and Osama Bin Laden. We just wanted to get away, get home, but they attacked and we couldn't get away,” said Majd Al Ghannamah. Another student blamed himself for not saving his friend; "I blame myself for not saving Mohammed, but where I come from, we are not used to this kind of thing happening. At home, we never need to defend ourselves like that," said the boy.
The owner of the kebab shop, Remzi Tanriverdi, said he had warned police about the youths who had started drinking outside his shop after they refused to leave when asked and verbally abused him. "After I asked them to leave, I noticed a police car pull up outside. I asked them to keep an eye on the boys, and they said they would - then left. Less than an hour later, Mohammed… had been beaten. The attack was completely unprovoked and without reason.”
Around 30,000 to 50,000 foreign students come to Hastings and nearby Rother each summer. Majed had spent 5 weeks studying English at the EF International Language School and was due to return home in a week.
Three males aged 17, 18 and 20 have been arrested and bailed.
