Belfast's Sinn Fein Lord Mayor Mr Alex Maskey today denounced "racist thugs" who drove a leading Muslim in the city out of his home.
Jamal Iweida, president of the city's Islamic Centre, fled his home on the outskirts of south Belfast after a series of attacks and threats to him and his family.
Jamal Iweida said he had endured sporadic problems during the two years he lived in the Finaghy area.
"But things just got a lot worse in recent weeks. My house and car were attacked and there was a very clear threat, so I and my wife and son have left."
Originally from Palestine, Jamal Iweida, who came to the North seven years ago from Jordan, said he was not satisfied with the response of police to the harassment he had experienced.
Racial taunts and attacks were a common experience of other members of the Islamic community in Belfast, he said.
However, the president of the Islamic Centre insisted the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland had been "very friendly, very kind, very tolerant."
"However, there is a racism problem among a small number of people that needs to be highlighted," he said.
Belfast's Sinn Fein Lord Mayor denounced the treatment of Jamal Iweida and his family.
"Those who are involved in such racist attacks are nothing short of racist thugs who have no positive role to play within our community."
Mr Maskey said south Belfast was one of Ireland's most multi-cultural areas. "Racist attacks must end and those who would involve themselves in such activities are enemies of the wider community."
PA