A Newcastle councillor says he has to put up with racism on a daily basis. Dipu Ahad says he has even received death threats.
Councillor Ahad says the abuse has increased in the wake of the recent beheadings by Islamic State militants.
Northumbria Police is currently investigating an email which threatened to behead him in retaliation and post the footage on YouTube.
Now the member for Elswick says it has reached the stage where he has considered resigning from office as a result.
“Every night you go home and before you come out of your car you look around to see if there are any people around outside. You are suspicious if there is someone to target you. Every day I am being targeted and every day I wake up and say to myself do I need to do this?”
Councillor Ahad told ITV News that he experienced racism at all levels and he believes institutional racism is a major problem. Despite the abuse he has decided to stand again and this week submitted his papers.