The UK's only Chinese-born parliamentarian is resigning from politics because of continued racist abuse from her opponents.
According to the Guardian, Anna Lo said she will not run again due to increasing racist and sectarian abuse from unionist supporters.
Hong Kong-born Lo, a Northern Ireland resident for four decades, said she was also considering leaving for good because of enduring sectarianism and now rising racism.
Lo, who represents South Belfast in the regional parliament, also cited first minister Peter Robinson's support for a born-again Christian preacher's depiction of Islam as "the spawn of the devil" as a reason for wanting out of Ulster politics.
She is the first Chinese-born politician ever to have been elected to a British regional assembly or parliament.
In an interview with the Guardian on Thursday, Lo, said she had been shaken by a recent incident during the European election campaign when a loyalist mob followed her out of an east Belfast shopping centre.
"They started hurling abuse at me and I decided to get out of Connswater shopping centre as quickly as possible. About three or four individuals then followed me to the car park but I kept ahead of them walking as quickly as I could. Even when I got inside my car there was a young girl who climbed out of the wound-down window of a parked car and started shouting vile things at me. If I hadn't decided to act quickly and get out of there I don't know what would have happened to me."
She also revealed that her two sons had been trying to persuade her to join them in England because of their concerns for her safety.
On Twitter, Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness voiced his support for Lo:
Just spoke to Anna Lo to offer my support & solidarity.She & our Muslim Community are much valued members of our society. #IstandwithAnna
— Martin McGuinness (@M_McGuinness_SF) May 29, 2014
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