| Hateland -
Articles |
14/02/02
- 'Klan man' harassed Asian shopkeeper
Robin Turner
A FORMER leader of an American white supremacist group
is facing a jail sentence for racially harassing an Asian
shopkeeper following the USA terrorist attacks of September
11.
Former Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon Alan Beshella, 52, terrified
37-year-old Mohammed Nawaz and his family at their corner
shop in Caerau, Maesteg, just three days after the Twin
Towers collapsed.
Beshella introduced himself at the Caerau Discount Store
as "The Klan Man" and then demanded to know
"which side" Mr Nawaz was on and what the Pakistani
government was going to do about the terrorism. As he
left the shop he said, "Kill the Jews".
Two weeks later he came back with a friend and frightened
Mr Nawaz and his wife Nusrat so much they are now selling
their Caerau store and plan to settle in Cardiff or Newport
where there are bigger Asian populations. Mr Nawaz now
never lets his children, two boys aged 11 and 9 and a
five-year-old girl, out of the house on their own.
He said, "I'd had enough of racial taunts from kids
but this was the final straw. I can't take it any more.
The shop is on the market." Tottenham-born Beshella
joined the KKK while living in California where he was
brought up before settling in Tonna Road, Maesteg, 13
years ago.
He denied racial harassment but was found guilty by Bridgend
magistrates who decided yesterday that the case was so
serious Beshella would have to be sentenced at Cardiff
Crown Court on March 8.
Andrew Smith, prosecuting, said, "This was a very
subtle, measured and premeditated course of action which
terrified Mr and Mrs Nawaz as if it had been a physical
assault on them and their premises."
When he was arrested soon afterwards, Beshella told police,
"I was just being honest and told him I was the Klan
Man, it's my nickname. I wanted to put my cards on the
table and let him know who he was talking to."
Susan Lewis, defending, said her client believed his conversation
to be "friendly". She said that it was only
through gossip in the corner store that Mr Nawaz discovered
Beshella had previously been a member of the KKK.
She added that he now believed becoming a member was the
"stupidest thing he ever did" and she claimed
Beshella believed that in California the KKK was regarded
as a legitimate political organisation although it had
different connotation elsewhere.
Beshella said after yesterday's case that he planned to
appeal against his conviction. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
|
|
|
