By THOMAS BURROWS FOR MAILONLINE
Friday, September 23, 2016
These picture shows the extraordinary moment a community rallied around a mother-of-five - to prevent her being booted out of her house in a 'revenge eviction'.
Nimo Abdullahi, 39, had been informed she and her family would be kicked out of their home of 12 years after she complained to her landlord about damp and the filthy carpets.
But in an amazing show of support, residents and campaigners linked arms to prevent bailiffs entering the property today.
Around 30 people stood defiantly side-by-side in front of the privately-rented house in Easton, Bristol.
A newlywed couple living opposite kept the campaigners' spirits up by handing out slices of their wedding cake.
Ms Abdullahi, who has lived in the house since she moved to the UK from the Netherlands 12 years ago, said: 'This is our home.
'It has a big problem with damp. This is bad for us, because my children have asthma and it is not a good placed [for that].
'Until recently, the carpets everywhere were very old and dirty and we would ask the landlord to improve things but he was difficult.
'Many times I asked him [to sort it out] and a lot of times he would threaten us.
'He would say that we were going to be evicted, and once he came round with his wife and she said that if we didn't move out they would call the police to get us out.'
When bailiffs turned up at the house at 11am on Tuesday they were met by the human wall.
Ms Abdullahi, who has three sons and two daughters, said: 'I was shocked. I've had great support from Acorn [a local grass roots movement which fights for renters' rights] and now to see my neighbours outside supporting me is amazing.'
One of the campaigners, Jenny Ross, came out in support of her neighbour.
She said: 'We don't want people in our community treated like this. It's a revenge eviction and people deserve decent rented accommodations.
'This landlord, and all landlords, need to know there are people in this community who won't ignore it.
'We live in this street and it's a close community. It's amazing how many people have turned out.'
Another neighbour, Kirsten Parton, added: 'I'm here because of the way she's been treated by her landlord. It is simply not on.
'She and her family are part of the community and have been here for quite some time.'
Organiser Nick Ballard, from Acorn Bristol, said he wanted to send a 'strong message' that such evictions will not be tolerated.
However, despite their efforts, she was evicted and is now being looked after in emergency sheltered accommodation.