Bradford West Candidate Salma Yaqoob has broken her silence and spoken out against what she calls is 'intimidation' against her supporters.

Labour’s Naz Shah and independent candidate Salma Yaqoob have made history by becoming the first two Muslim women to contest each other for a seat in Parliament.

Yesterday, Ms Yaqoob also released a statement, saying: “A supporter who has had my poster in their window has had their window smashed. Tyres have been slashed on a car which carried my poster.

“Banners and posts are removed during the night and supporters who have them up are being intimidated.

“These incidents are in the process of being reported to the relevant authorities.

“I have maintained my stance – the people of Bradford West have been neglected, their rights forgotten, their hopes shattered. The time for positive change is now.

“I must, however, now speak up against the incessant negative campaign against my character.

“I fear not for my own life, but the lives of my family; not for my character, but for the reputation and peace of people in Bradford who are already fed up with this kind of politicking.

Ms Yaqoob’s statement also addressed allegations, reported in Pakistani media, that her campaign was being supported by the family of Bradford woman Samia Shahid, who died in an alleged ‘honour killing’ in Pakistan.

The father and ex-husband of Ms Shahid both deny murder and are awaiting trial.

Ms Shah had prominently called for justice for Ms Shahid.

But Ms Yaqoob said any suggestions that she was standing in the way of justice made her “sick to the stomach”.

She said: “Honour killing is an abhorrent crime and I respect anyone - even, of course, political opponents - who take a stance against it.

“I have championed women’s rights and freedoms, condemned honour killings, stood against racism in all its forms including anti-Semitism, and will continue to do so throughout my life.

“I have never and will never support honour killings in any way, shape or form.”

However, Naz Shah has herself claimed she has been the target of personal attacks reports the Telegraph and Argus.

An image has surfaced online of Ms Shah’s face pictured in the crosshairs of a gun, in a chilling echo of the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox last year.

Ms Shah said she had reported the matter to police, saying: “On a personal level, I think it is absolutely atrocious.”

She said: “In the last campaign and this campaign, I have experienced unprecedented levels of personal attacks, misogyny, vitriol and vilification.”

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating a number of complaints from across Bradford District in relation to the elections.

“It would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.”

A spokesman for Bradford Council, which runs elections, added: “We have received a number of complaints in relation to the elections which we have forwarded to the police. It would be inappropriate for us comment further at this time.”

Police have already confirmed they are looking into allegations of a hate crime at a hustings in Bradford West, in which an audience member is alleged to have heckled Ms Shah with the words ‘Jew, Jew, Jew’ after she defended Israel’s right to exist.