Bijan Ebrahimi (Persian: بیژن ابراهیمی; c. 1969 – 14 July 2013) was an Iranian refugee living in Bristol, United Kingdom.[1] For seven years, the 44-year old disabled man had reported death threats and racial abuse from his neighbours.[2]
On 14 July 2013, Ebrahimi was murdered by his neighbour, Lee James.[3] James had falsely accused Ebrahimi of being a paedophile (when in fact he had merely been recording evidence of threats and antisocial behaviour, since the police had dismissed them) and then beat Ebrahimi to death, later dragging Ebrahimi's body to his home's front yard and setting fire to it.[4][5]
Considered a case of institutional racism, the case drew international media attention.[6][7] An independent review concluded that Bristol City Council and the police were guilty of institutional racism in dealings with Bijan Ebrahimi.[8] Four police and community officers were fired and two were jailed.[9]
Events
editBristol resident, and physically disabled Iranian refugee, Bijan Ebrahimi, complained that he was being frequently harassed by some of his neighbours. To provide evidence, he began filming them. While filming his neighbour Lee James drinking beer and playing with his young daughter, James noticed Ebrahimi filming them, and accused Ebrahimi of filming his daughter for his sexual gratification. James subsequently attacked Ebrahimi, and told his neighbours that he believed Ebrahimi to be a paedophile.
Ebrahimi called the police who arrived to find a homicidally enraged James, but decided to instead arrest Ebrahimi because they found him difficult. While being led away under arrest, an angry crowd which had gathered outside Ebrahimi's house cheered the policemen because they believed that Ebrahimi had been arrested for paedophilia. After being arrested, the officers treated Ebrahimi's concerns for his own safety with open contempt before housing him a few miles from his previous home.
James found out about Ebrahimi's new home and began trying to murder him. Ebrahimi made many attempts to contact the police, but the police chose to ignore his pleas. While Ebrahimi was trying to flee, he was intercepted by James, who beat him to death. A neighbour of James provided alcohol to help burn Ebrahimi's body. When the police arrived, Ebrahimi's body was still burning.
References
edit- ^ "Bijan Ebrahimi murder: 'Institutional racism' by council and police". BBC. 18 December 2017.
- ^ "Bijan Ebrahimi: Police 'failed' murdered man for years". BBC. 5 July 2017.
- ^ "The tragic case of Bijan Ebrahimi means BME people need to seriously consider entering the police force". The Independent. 19 December 2017.
- ^ Morris, Steven (15 January 2018). "Council officials face investigation over Bijan Ebrahimi case". The Guardian.
- ^ Shute, Joe (November 2013). "Bijan Ebrahimi - An innocent man thrown to the mob". The Telegraph.
- ^ Bruxelles, Simon de (18 December 2017). "Council officials face investigation over Bijan Ebrahimi case". The Times.
- ^ "Bijan Ebrahimi: Murder victim let down by 'institutional racism'". Sky News.
- ^ "Multi-Agency Learning Review Following The Murder of Bijan Ebrahimi". Safer Bristol Partnership.
- ^ Morris, Steven (15 January 2018). "Council officials face investigation over Bijan Ebrahimi case". The Guardian.
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