Racially motivated attacks against ethnic groups in Northern Ireland are occurring "on an all too frequent basis", SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan said today.
As he prepared to meet representatives of the Chinese Welfare Association, Mr Durkan said he was alarmed by the recent upsurge in the attacks.
In July, a mixed race Muslim family were forced out of their home in Craigavon, Co Armagh after it was attacked by a gang of up to 10 men wielding baseball bats and iron bars.
Police also suspected pipe bomb attacks last month on two homes in the Donegall Avenue area of south Belfast were racially motivated.
Mr Durkan said today: "The SDLP have dedicated ourselves to building a society where respect for diversity forms the basis of our thinking, where judging someone, because of the colour of their skin or because of the religion, is anathema to all decent people ... That extends both to sectarianism and racism."
PA