SHREWSBURY, Mass. — A Shrewbsury man says he the target of hate during a recent political race, and it was all because of his religion.
Rashid Shaikh is a married father of three who was running for Shrewsbury Selectman earlier this year when letters about him were circulated around town.
"Make sure that you go out and elect other prominent selectman candidates but not a Muslim," the letter read in part. "Rashid is a very manipulative personality and a big liar.”
Shaikh has been living in the Shrewsbury area for 20 years now and said he was just trying to make a difference.
“I was trying to bring positive change where we could improve certain things,” he said.
He lost the election, and while it’s unclear if the letter had anything to do with that, Shaikh said he’s realized he has even more work to do in the community.
“We are like one garden with different flowers,” he said. “We need to educate people. We need to reach out to people.”
He just wants people in the community to educate themselves about culture.
“You don't know enough about me, and my religion. I take that job upon me to spread this message of love and peace with my words and actions,” he said.