“As South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) draws to a close, many from a South Asian background, and indeed from a minority ethnic background.” #LubnaShuja

As South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) draws to a close, many from a South Asian background, and indeed from a minority ethnic background, feel very far from “Free to Be Me” – the theme of this year’s SAHM. The recent Far Right riots, which ironically occurred during SAHM, took me right back to being a young child in the 1970s when I was subject to regular racist abuse. To see these riots taking place, hear racist language being openly used again 40 odd years later, and to see immigration lawyers being specifically targeted just for doing their jobs has been shocking. This was an attack on our democratic values and it is absolutely right that such criminal behaviour is being dealt with swiftly and robustly. Everyone should feel safe from intimidation and threats and the Rule of Law must be upheld.

I have spoken at a number of SAHM events over the last month where we discussed what it means to be a British South Asian in the UK today, the challenges we continue to face and how far we still have to go to feel like we really can be “Free to Be Me”. One of those events was at BCLP alongside Mukul Chawla KC, Jinal Shah, Rishabh Bhandari and Harsharon Puaar where we all shared our experiences of being South Asians in law. The legal profession has moved on a great deal over the years but it is clear that there is still work to be done before everyone can truly feel “Free To Be Me”.
Rhea Ava Patel

#Ruleoflaw #justice #SouthAsianHeritageMonth #law #solicitors #Standuptoracism #democracy #Peace #LegalProfession #lawandorder

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              t-black"><span dir="ltr"><span aria-hidden="true">Lubna Shuja</span></span></span></span></a>