A Labour MP who was subjected to an 18-month hate campaign has said the sentencing of her abuser marks the end of a distressing period. Rushanara Ali, the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, lived in a constant state of fear after Hussain Sha threatened to kill her and blow up her office.
Sha, 42, sent hundreds of threatening emails to Ms Ali, her staff, and family members, many containing racist slurs. In one message, he threatened to go to her office 'with a hand gun to do her Jo Cox-style'. He also targeted then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs, and former Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Sha was sentenced to a three-year community order and 120 hours of community service. He was also made subject to a 12-year restraining order banning him from contacting any MP without court permission. He had been in custody for over six months awaiting his hearing after admitting two counts of racially and religiously aggravated harassment and other offences.
Ms Ali called for more funding for mental health services to prevent similar crimes before they reach the court system. 'The sentencing for Sha hopefully marks the end of a distressing period for me, my family and my staff,' she said. 'We have been exposed to a continuous stream of abuse and harassment over the past few years.'
