Author: Andy Dolan and Katherine Faulkner
Publication: Daily Mail
Date: December 6, 2011
URL: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2070562/Muslim-girl-gang-kicked-Rhea-Page-head-yelling-kill-white-slag-FREED.html
* Yobs ripped lump of hair from Rhea Page's
head during High Street attack
* Three sisters and cousin escape with six-month
suspended sentences
* Maximum term for assault occasioning actual
bodily harm is five years' jail
* Judge: 'Those who knock someone to the floor
and kick them in the head can expect to go inside, but I'm going to suspend
the sentence'
A gang of Muslim women who attacked a passer-by
in a city centre walked free from court after a judge heard they were 'not
used to being drunk' because of their religion.
The group - three sisters and a cousin - allegedly
screamed 'kill the white slag' as they set upon Rhea Page as she waited for
a taxi with her boyfriend.
Miss Page, 22, was left with a bald patch
where her hair was pulled out in the attack and was left 'black and blue'
after suffering a flurry of kicks to the head, back, arms and legs while motionless
on the pavement.
Ambaro Maxamed, 24, students Ayan Maxamed,
28, and Hibo Maxamed, 24, and their 28-year-old cousin Ifrah Nur each admitted
actual bodily harm, which carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment.
But Judge Robert Brown gave them suspended
jail terms after hearing mitigation that as Muslims, the women were not used
to being drunk. The Koran prohibits Muslims from consuming alcohol, although
Islamic teachings permit its use for medicinal purposes.
After the sentencing, Ambaro Maxamed wrote
on her Twitter account: 'Happy happy happy!', 'I'm so going out', and 'Today
has been such a great day'.
Yesterday Miss Page, a care worker, called
the sentence 'disgusting' and said the gang deserved 'immediate custody'.
'It's no punishment at all,' she said. 'And
for them to say they did it because they were not used to alcohol is no excuse.
If they were not supposed to be drinking then they shouldn't have been out
in bars at that time of night.
'Even after the police came and they all ran
away, one of them came running back to kick me in the head one last time.
'I honestly think they attacked me just because
I am white. I can't think of any other reason.'
Miss Page was treated for bruises and grazes
after the attack in June last year as she walked to a taxi rank with boyfriend
Lewis Moore, 23, in Leicester city centre.
At the time she worked caring for people with
autism and learning difficulties but gave up the job after repeated absences
because of stress and flashbacks.
She is still having counselling and suffers
panic attacks.
She said: 'We were just minding our own business
but they kept shouting "white bitch" and "white slag"
at me. When I turned around one of them grabbed my hair then threw me on the
ground.
'They were taking turns to kick me over and
over. I thought they were going to kill me.'
None of the defendants was charged with racial
aggravation. Nur claimed Mr Moore, a fence builder, had been racially abusive,
but this was not accepted by the prosecution.
Gary Short, mitigating for Ambaro Maxamed,
said the attack was down to alcohol. He said: 'Although Miss Page's partner
used violence, it doesn't justify their behaviour.
'They're Somalian Muslims and alcohol or drugs
isn't something they're used to.'
The four women, who all live in Leicester,
were each sentenced to six-month jail terms, suspended for 12 months, at Leicester
Crown Court last month.
Hibo Maxamed also received a four-month curfew
between 9pm and 6am, while the others were ordered to carry out 150 hours
of unpaid work.
Judge Brown said that 'those who knock someone
to the floor and kick them in the head can expect to go inside'.
But he said he accepted the women may have
felt they were the victims of unreasonable force from Mr Moore as he tried
to defend his girlfriend, and handed the defendants a suspended sentence.
Speaking at her home, Hibo Maxamed said: 'I'm
not proud of it, it's not something I want to talk about. I just want to get
on with my life.'
When asked if she wanted to apologise, she
replied: 'What, to the public? I really don't care.'
