British lawmaker steps down amid threats

LONDON, June 22 (UPI) -- The first Muslim to serve in the British Parliament says he will not run for re-election because of death threats leveled against him by a racist gang.

Mohammad Sarwar, a Labor Party member who holds the Glasgow Central seat in the legislature, said he made the decision after his family was threatened by a gang related to three men he helped convict for the race-driven killing of Glasgow teenager Kriss Donald in 2004, The Sun reported Friday.

Sarwar was a driving force behind the extradition of the three killers after they fled to Pakistan.

"Life is not the same, to be honest with you, since I brought them back. I was subjected to threats," Sarwar said. "I was told they wanted to punish my family and make a horrible example of my son -- they would do to him what they did to Kriss Donald.

"I received threats to my life, to murder my sons, to murder my grandchildren."

However, he maintains bringing the three back to face justice "was the right thing to do."