I never thought I’d write this, but the recent surge of hate crimes in the streets of the UK has awakened me to the fact that remaining silent is akin to condoning these atrocities.

I moved to the UK 17 years ago and during this time, I have navigated various work permits, obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and ultimately became a holder of a British passport. Throughout these years, I have wholeheartedly dedicated myself to employment, serving UK and European clients, and even playing a crucial role in the Irish COVID vaccination programme during the challenging lockdown period. Not once have I wavered in my commitment to paying National Insurance, Taxes, or contributing to charitable causes.

I ensured that I mastered the English language, immersed myself in the local culture and customs, and engaged with the community beyond my own race, religion, or ethnicity. I even learned to prepare dishes that were entirely new to me during my 17 years here and became a part of a British family. Therefore, it is deeply painful when someone tells me to “go back to where I came from.” This is my home, and I have made every effort to integrate without disrupting the local community. Yet, every time I venture into a new environment, I am met with disparaging looks that seem to convey, “You’re just an ordinary brown woman; you can’t achieve much.”

It’s absolutely mind-boggling to consider how dreadfully uneventful the history of human kind would be if everyone simply remained within the confines of their birthplaces, ceaselessly avoiding interactions with individuals from other regions. The captivating tapestry of diverse cultures and ethnicities is what breathes life and fascination into our world. When uninformed individuals make ignorant remarks rooted in race, religion, or geographic boundaries, one can almost comprehend it. However, witnessing educated individuals readily succumb to misinformation is an existential threat to our society.

We are living in the 21st century, and it is absolutely unacceptable for anyone to base their conclusions on hate towards a particular race, colour, sex, or any other aspect of identity. Such behaviour is not only unreliable, but also untrustworthy. It is a crime to feed hatred and fan the flames of those who feel marginalised in our society. Spreading rumours on any global platform is a crime as well. It is imperative that we rely on credible sources of information, and not succumb to the misinformation often found on social media.