| Hateland -
Articles |
13/02/02
- British Ku-Klux-Klan chief faces sentence over September
11 abuse
A court has sent the former leader of the Ku-Klux-Klan
in Britain for sentence at crown court for racially harassing
a shopkeeper following the September 11 attacks.
Bridgend Magistrates Court confirmed that Allan Beshella,
52, of Tonna Road, Maesteg, south Wales, was due to be
sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on March 8. Beshella
had pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated harassment
but was found guilty at Port Talbot Magistrates last month.
He was found guilty of harassing Mohammed Nawaz at his
discount store and off licence in Caerau, near Bridgend,
and taunting him about the September 11 attacks. The offences
took place on September 14 and September 28. Beshella,
who returned to Wales from America 13 years ago, was released
on conditional bail.
Mr Nawaz, who runs the Kaira Discount Off Licence, in
Caerau Road, said he wanted to leave the area after what
had happened because he was scared for himself and his
family. He told how Beshella had come into the shop and
asked lots of questions about the September 11 attacks
in New York.
On a second occasion he again came into the shop but Mr
Nawaz said he was more frightened because of the "tone"
Beshella was using.
"He wanted to know if I was on the side of the Taliban
or America and Britain. The way he was saying it really
frightened me. I said I was not happy what had happened
to all those innocent people in America." |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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