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BACKGROUND The majority of the Asian population in the area are Muslims of Pakistani origin. The Black population is predominantly Christian of Caribbean origin. The respective religious ideologies should not be taken as an indicator of great significance when trying to understand the cause of the riots; although they obviously aid in the distinction between the two communities, the animosity that preceded the rioting appears to have been largely based on local economic rivalry combined with possible agitation from opposing criminal gangs [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4368994.stm . During a 2004 documentary titled ''Who You Callin' a Nigger?'' writer and broadcaster Darcus Howe picked up and commented upon a backdrop of mutual ethnic minority Racism both in the West Midlands and the rest of Britain . It should be noted that his documentary did not focus solely on the differences between the African British and British Asian community but also included inter-black and inter-Asian Racism . The problems specific to the Lozells area appear to be centered on the prevalence of Asian-owned businesses, the 'unfair treatment' and 'derogatory attitudes' of each community to the other in addition to Asian and Black drug gangs fighting for territory. THE ALLEGED RAPE There has never been agreement on the date the alleged rape occurred and the exact circumstances remain unclear: descriptions of the event change dependent on source. The earliest news items concerning the issue seem to begin with the BBC reporting a 'Stop traffic' protest on October 18 2005 {Link without Title} . The rumours involve a 14 year old girl of Jamaican or Somali origin attempting to shoplift from a branch of 'Beauty Queen Cosmetics'. When caught by the Asian owner, she either offers herself sexually or he proposes to her that in exchange for sex she would be free to go. The girl is further raped by a group of eight to nineteen men. Afraid of being deported due to her Illegal Immigrant status the girl refuses to provide a statement to the police. The police appealed for any evidence of the event occurring and stated at the very least her immigrant status would not be an issue until after the allegations had been dealt with. Despite the appeal, forensic searches and questioning of several individuals, the allegations have never been substantiated and no witnesses have come forward. RUMOURS Local for the murder of Isiah Young-Sam. {Link without Title} In the aftermath of the riots a solidarity march for unity was conducted by African, white and asian women and children.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2005/10/26/one_community_vigil_feature.shtml]. On November 5 , 2005 graves in the Muslim part of a local cemetery were desecrated. Vandals who pushed over and destroyed several grave stones left behind leaflets insulting Muslims. The leaflets were signed by a group calling itself 'Black Nation'. There is no previous history of any such organisation and it is not known whether it does in fact exist [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4406760.stm]. Dr John Sentamu, the first African archbishop in the Church of England strongly condemned the desecrations [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4409886.stm]. PRESS REPORTS On February 21 , 2006 the Press Complaints Commission censured '' The Voice '', the leading Black newspaper in Britain, for reporting the alleged rape in terms which suggested it was unchallenged fact (the newspaper had headlined "Gang of 19 rape teen"). EXTERNAL LINKS
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