A shopkeeper is considering selling his supermarket because he can no longer tolerate the racist abuse endured by him and his family.
Imtiaz ul Haq said he has been a victim of constant taunts and even physical assaults because of his background.
He said he has been called names, had a metal advertising board thrown at him and his shop windows smashed.
In 2016, a robbery, which was not racially motivated, nearly killed Mr Haq when his throat was slashed.
Mathew Whelan, 29, from Mancot, was jailed for 20 years in June for the shopkeeper's attempted murder.
Mr Haq said he is considering putting his supermarket up for sale because the hate he has endured is now taking its toll on his family.
The 59-year-old said he wants to share his story in the hope other people affected by racist abuse report what they are going through.
He told the Daily Post: “In the early days in Queensferry we were fine but then in 2015, when I had to let a number of staff go and took over the running of the store myself, the incidents of race hatred began.
“People come into the store and call us names and also use vile swear words against us.
“We’ve had broken windows and one time when I was outside the store a man came up, picked up a metal advertising board and threw it at me. Luckily, I moved away just in time and it missed or I would have been badly hurt.
“My wife, who sometimes helps in the store, has also been verbally abused. I have received a lot of help from Victim Support.”
Mr Haq is originally from Islamabad, the Pakistani capital city, where he used his master’s degree in business administration to set up a string of successful enterprises, including a petrol station and a packaging company.
Although at one stage he employed around 300 staff, he says that security at his businesses became a major concern, which persuaded him to move to the UK with his wife Afshan, and their young daughter, Daanya, now 11, five years ago.
He bought two Costcutter stores – one in Liverpool, which he has since sold, and the one in Queensferry, Flintshire.
Mrs Haq said: “The race hatred we’ve been experiencing has not only affected the confidence of my husband but also myself and our young daughter.
“She gets very worried about it and is always asking me if her father is alright and if all the security working at the store is working properly. She’s also developed a stammer when she speaks because of it.
“It goes further than that because when I tell our family back in Pakistan what is happening to us they are also very worried for our safety.
“My husband says he is thinking of selling the store and starting a business in another area.
“All this is such a shame because more than 95% of people in this area are really good and we’ve had lots of support from our neighbours.”
The couple are taking part in Hate Crime Impact Day next Thursday, as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Hate crime support worker Rich Ward has been helping the family since last August.
He said: “They (Mr Haq and his family) have been subjected to numerous examples of verbal and physical abuse over a long period and there is a strong racial element to all this.
“This sort of thing should not be tolerated and no-one should have to live in fear.
“We’ve organised the Hate Crime Impact Day to highlight the effect such crimes have on people. We will have a number of agencies represented there, such as the police and Victim Support, and the public are also invited.
“I’m very grateful that Mr Haq and his wife have agreed to be there to talk about their experiences and to help us make people aware that suspected hate crimes should always be reported to the police, both by the victims themselves and also potential witnesses.”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said: “Hate crime is one of those abhorrent offences which cause a lot of distress.
“If you’re picking on people or committing offences against them because of their ethnic background, religion, colour of their skin or sexuality it causes a lot of bad feeling.
“I am grateful to Mr and Mrs Haq for agreeing to speak about their dreadful an intolerable experiences at this special awareness event to let people know what is happening.
“Hate crime is very serious and we must address it. The strong message I wish to send out is that hate crime in any of its forms will not be tolerated in North Wales.”
Greg George, Head of Diversity for North Wales Police said: “ “Hate crime is hurtful and shameful and will not be tolerated by North Wales Police.
“We have regular discussions with representatives to provide reassurance and to let people know that we are here to protect all our communities.
“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of any sort of abuse or harm motivated by hatred to contact us. People need to know that the full weight of the law will be brought against any offenders.”
Hate Crime Impact Day, organised by the charity Victim Support, will be held at the Centre for Cultural Engagement (CCE), in Greenfield Road, Colwyn Bay, on October 19 as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week
