East London Shopkeeper Receives Angry Letter Telling Him To Take Down England Flags

An England fan has been targeted by anonymous hate mail after he bedecked his shop with St George's flags to celebrate the World Cup.

Gagan, a Sikh shopkeeper originally from India, received a letter through his post box last week telling him that he should not support England and that he had forgotten his roots.

"You have put [the] wrong flag outside your shop when you have come from Indian," read the letter. "Have you forgot your skin colour?"

"You should put the Pakistan flag outside your shop not British. If National Front skinheads saw this flag outside they will kick you back to India without your trousers on."

The letter, according to Gagan, was filled with spelling mistakes of grammatical errors, as well as the hateful content.

Bizarrely, it is also addressed 'Dear Uncle' and includes the date that it was written in the top corner.

The flags went up on Wednesday and the letter dropped onto his mat on Thursday.

Alongside the flags of St George, he has also bought bunting with the flags of all competing nations at the World Cup, which hangs proudly from the front of his shop, GMS Heating and Plumbing, in the East London district of Ilford.

"We're just trying to have some fun and people want to ruin it by saying it shouldn't be done," said Gagan. "It should be done." "I find this mentality really stupid to be honest - what, we can't support the country that we're living in?

"We are a family business that my father started over 30 years ago. He has lived in this country for around 40 years and we love this country otherwise we wouldn't be here.

"Supporting England during the football is enjoyable and all part of the fun - and some people seem to think it is wrong for us to do because we are Indian? Why spend your time writing a letter like this, it doesn't make sense to me."

David Landau, a worker at a local anti-racism charity, Redbridge Equalities and Community Council, backed Gagan's decision.

"This is a rather unusual situation but abuse is abuse and if someone is abused for putting up England flags this is wrong," said David.

"It shouldn't be happening and racism needs to be condemned."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, England, World Cup

Mike Wood

Mike Meehall Wood is a freelance journalist and translator. He writes for LADbible, VICE and countless sports publications, focusing on rugby league, football and boxing. He is a graduate of Leeds University and maintains a fizzy pop obsession. Contact Mike at [email protected]