MEMBERS of an Islamic centre in south London are fearful of walking home at night after anti-Muslim graffiti was scrawled on a nearby building. 

Anti-racist campaigners held a protest today outside North Brixton Islamic Cultural Centre in solidarity with the Muslim community. 

Islamophobic slogans were found on a building opposite the cultural centre on January 1.

Zeinab Mohammad, who goes to the centre three days a week, said her community has been very shocked by the incident. 

Now some members are too scared to attend evening events because they don’t want to go home in the dark, she told the Star. 

Ms Mohammad, who is from Ghana, said that anti-Muslim rhetoric by politicians was to blame, as it emboldens racists to commit hate crimes like the graffiti attack. 

“This is the direct result of what people hear on the telly,” she said.

“When people hear the PM say these things, that person will think they can do anything they want to.”

South London Stand Up to Racism convener Rahul Patel endorsed Ms Mohammad’s view.

He said: “Boris Johnson has shaped and is pushing the Islamophobic debate in the UK today.

“What he is preaching is now having ramifications on the streets of London.”

The Prime Minister has faced multiple allegations of racism and Islamophobia over his derogatory comments about Muslims, which have included likening burka-wearing women to “bank robbers” and “letterboxes.”

Centre member Baba Boie-Kamara told the Star that he was particularly shocked by the incident because the centre plays an integral part in the local community. 

“We are very peaceful and tolerant,” he explained.

“We have open days for everyone, for all the neighbourhood …  so for someone to have bad intentions towards us is a big shock, because we don’t know why.”

Mr Boie-Kamara said that after the graffiti was found, many of the centre’s neighbours came to show their solidarity and support. 

The incident was the first attack that the centre has faced in the 25 years since it opened.

With people from many countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria, attracted to the centre, Ms Mohammad described it as a “lovely community” that’s “open to everybody.”