A MUSLIM mother has said she fears for her family’s safety after the flag outside her home was wrongly believed to be in support of Islamic State militants.

Shazia Ramzan, 35, of Gaer Road, Newport, has an Abbas flag raised at the front of her house – which honours Abbas ibn Ali, the martyr revered by Shia Muslims for sacrificing his life in an effort to procure water for the children of his half-brother, Husayn ibn Ali, in the battle of Karbala on October 10, 680.

When Al-Abbas fell off his horse after a mortal blow to the head, his flag (Alam) and leather water bag (mashk) stayed linked and never separated. Mrs Ramzan’s flag pays tribute to this.

Following the anti-IS protest that stopped traffic on Severn Bridge last Sunday, a comment was left on the Argus website alleging that the flag was an IS emblem but Mrs Ramzan said this is untrue.

She said: “Al-Abbas is the flag-bearer of faith and loyalty and we did not want to cause any grief by putting the flag up. Every year we, as Shias, want to mourn it. They gave their life for Islam, it’s thanks to them. It’s more than a flag.

“People see the black flags and IS immediately comes into their heads. However, it’s been up for a few years. I just want them to know that we have nothing to do with IS.

“IS are scumbags. Islam does not say what they proclaim; Islam is beautiful and a true religion when followed correctly. They are not Muslims. True Islam does not say anything IS does.”

Mrs Ramzan, who is the mother of two children, said that she has seen the Abbas flag in other parts of Newport, such as Pill.

However, fearing she would not be able to get her message across, Mrs Ramzan reached out to the Argus – believing any alternatives would prove futile.

She added: “I could put a sign on the wall, but that’s just for passers-by and I’m scared that our house will be bricked now. People driving will probably just see the IS letters if I put a sign up.”