ESOL citizenship video and interview transcript

Human Rights

036 Monira Khan

The words removed below are the key words used most by this speaker.

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1. Mary: Thank you Monira for being willing to be interviewed.

2. Monira: You're welcome.

3. Mary: Okay, so can you tell me then a little bit about your experiences when you came to this country and your experiences of racism especially?

4. Monira: Yes. Hmm, I came to Leeds 1977, no '79.

5. Mary: Right.

6. Monira: Okay, and I was sharing a house with my friend first few month, then I moved out to my own house in Leeds 5, Vespa Road, and I still live in number 93, Vespa Road. But, after we moved in I was ... I ... working like, one flower, planting some flower in my dining room table and all of a sudden I heard a noise. And I couldn't believe that something can [1] , really, that time. But I wasn't [2] , I thought, you know, oh a nice neighbour, everything nice, everything going on alright.

7. What is it? Didn't that move, my curtain? And I saw some glasses, and then I thought someone [3] a stone. Yeah, then I just went up the stair.

8. And first I thought maybe accidentally until something happened. And then I went to my next door neighbour and says, look, someone threw a stone. And they said, oh this thing [4] sometime, you know, and just then I called my husband at work. He came, I didn't bother, I just pick up.

9. And that was really the start. And after that I was a little bit [5] . Then, when I realised that people deliberately doing it, to harm somebody. So I had two small children, one was a baby. My husband used to work at night, so he used to come home like two o'clock, he had his own business. And some people probably thought I'm on my own, single parent with two children, because they can only see me going out with them, coming inside.

10. He used to go to work and come very late. So, my ... I had a very good neighbour, who told me that if anything happened, don't be [6] , ring me, and contact me, I'm here always. And he was at home all the time because he had some angina problem.

11. So it started from there. Then I used to leave my sitting room lights on, because if they know that I'm working and busy they used to do it. A couple of times they did minor incident. Then one occasion my ... I was up the stair, up the stair, the bedroom light was on, and someone [7] a big stone ball in my [8] window, the first time they did it [9] .

12. And I thought, oh, oh my God, my son was still a baby. I [10] the [11] , obviously the [12] was late. Then my next door neighbour came with the sound. And I always open the door after he ... I see him. And then he came in, and he talked to the [13] as well. And [14] didn't come.

13. Next morning the [15] came because it's minor incident and, [16] , this thing [17] . So my neighbour was so furious he telephoned ... he wrote to the Councillor and all the other people, 'cause this is the situation. One occasion when [18] was in my house, [19] was telling me, this is not racism, and it's happening everywhere. So I am victim, but nothing much they can do until.unless they have proof who is doing it. But, I knew who.

14. Mary: You knew who was doing it?

15. Monira: Yes, young children, like teenagers.

16. Mary: Right.

17. Monira: They're usually next.near my house there is a Church wall and they used to sit there. Sometime after.every time I went to school or something they used to put a sticker, Paki go out, things like that on my garage door, so I knew they're doing it.

18. But, I had no proof to prove it, but my neighbour he tried, he wrote Councillor, you know, here and there and in front of me he told the [20] Officer that I must prepare, this is racism.

19. Anyway, last time when I decided I'd move out, I was hanging the washing out and I had my little boy with me. And I was coming inside the door a young boy, again teenage, throwing milk bottle and breaking in my path, you know, driveway. And three throw milk bottle, and they were so angry with my neighbour, they broke a couple of them in my neighbour's house as well, 'cause he's coming and helping me, and this target to disturb him as well.

20. So I telephoned.I, I was about to pick up the glasses because children play there, then I thought I should ring [21] , they should come and see first. Then when I [22] [23] , the things I didn't like, the [24] told me, oh Madam, these things [25] [26] , you just pick up, you know, and cleaning.things, something they mentioned.

21. And I thought I have to do it, I know that, but I just wanted to show you the ...

22. Mary: [27] , yes.

23. Monira: ...situation. You know, they used to throw not only milk bottle, coffee jar, wine bottle, things like that. And after Christmas, one day [28] came to my house and told me they roughly know who are they, like there was a National Front Office in Horsforth somewhere, I don't know. They play with those balls, you know, like your stone, billiard or something. And one of the ball was missing.

24. So they knew someone linked with that Club, and they deliberately took that ball and, and I kept it. I gave it to the [29] , the heavy ball. So nothing happened, so I decided to move out.

25. My neighbour was against me moving out, he was saying that, please don't move out, this thing should stop. But, after they had [30] the milk bottle so close to my son, I was really [31] . And I thought, if it's hit him, then it will be too late for me to do anything. Even if it could, you know, I am not bothered if it's hitting me just ... or anything happening.

26. But, my neighbour was still, you know, his wife coming to my house and saying, you know, it was so nice but, nothing you can do.

27. The first time I moved out from that house I went to a [32] house, I felt nobody want to hit me or anything. My mind was much fresher, even after all this hard work, moving out, in a [33] house in Leeds 11.

28. So I understand why some people do not want to live within a working class, white or other background, you know, they find themselves isolated mainly.

29. Mary: Yes, yes.

30. Monira: And I could see with my student when they have this type of problem, you know, why they want to move out and move into area where more ... and worst area, and sometimes it's a new house in Chapeltown building, why you don't like that area? Why you want to move in here? Sometimes I ask this question. But sometimes when they suffer, you know, you understand why they want to move out really.

31. Mary: Yes, so do your students come to you for [34] about what to do?

32. Monira: Not particular [35] , you know, beginning of the class or after class, sometimes they say, oh last night I couldn't sleep. Why? Up the stairs, someone playing music all night. And who complain? Council houses, you can't do anything. Or maybe [36] , [37] and after that person is so angry, if you see up there you know, what will [38] .

33. So, there's things, there's different type of problem, but I understand why they want to move out. And, to me, it's nice house, why you want to move out? Anybody will say that, but they'll go to older house, maybe not as nice, maybe not as healthy, but still they want to move out, the main reason, they want peace of mind.

34. Mary: Yes, [39] , [40] . So would you have [41] then to share with people or if people are facing this kind of situation..

35. Monira: The best [42] I'll have, if you have good neighbourhood, together do something, and all the [43] want is evidence, you have to take photograph, maybe the camera, you know, outside your house, which is expensive, not everybody can afford. You know, these things [44] and it's very difficult to go, you know.

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