Mal Hussein and partner Linda Livingstone live their life feeling constantly under threat. As the owner of a convenience store on the Ryelands Estate in Lancaster, Hussein has suffered 11 years of racial abuse and attacks which have resulted in numerous arrests and wrangles between the council and police. Hussein's case is now to go before the European Court of Human Rights and he's trying to get a public inquiry launched into why he hasn't been properly helped out by the authorities. Pakistani-born Hussein is taunted by customers on the mainly white estate almost on a daily basis and can reel off a catalogue of incidents, ranging from name calling to vandalism, racist graffiti, petrol bombs and physical attacks. It started with two men asking for protection money, which he refused, and hasn't let up since. His shop has been on the market for years but he's been unable to sell it because of the problems; the store looks like a fortress now as the windows are covered in iron grilles. Taking medication for his nerves, he thinks about leaving every day, but questions whether other parts of the country would be any less racist. And Hussein is convinced he's not alone and knows of other Asian shopkeepers in his area who've been subjected to abuse. "Shopkeepers are vulnerable. We're not aggressive. Even when you're being bullied you have to be polite as you can't give them ammunition, otherwise they'll end up damaging your property. "Society is very aggressive now and they see corner shops as easy pickings." He adds: "Shopkeepers don't usually report it because they don't have confidence in the authorities and are also worried that the attacks could escalate." {{COVER FEATURE }}