A judge has sentenced Xahra Saleem, a former organiser of a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest, to two and a half years in jail after it was revealed that she used funds intended for charity for her personal benefit. Saleem gained public attention as a member of the BLM march in Bristol in 2020, which was organized in response to the murder of George Floyd in the US. She pleaded guilty to fraud for abusing her position as the director of Changing Your Mindset Ltd by transferring money to her personal bank accounts between June 2020 and September 2021.
During the sentencing at Bristol Crown Court, Judge Michael Longman acknowledged that Saleem had gained a high public profile through her involvement with BLM and had used it, along with the help of others, to raise money for supporting young people in the St. Paul’s area of Bristol. However, the judge noted that Saleem had instead used the money to fund a lifestyle she couldn’t afford. The prosecution revealed that over 2,500 payments were made from Saleem’s account during the 15-month period, covering various personal expenses such as shopping, bills, an iPhone, beauty appointments, clothing, Amazon purchases, taxis, and takeaways.
The court learned that Saleem initially appeared to be dedicated to the cause and was trusted by community worker Rebecca Scott, who assisted her in organizing the BLM march. Saleem then offered to set up a fundraising page in gratitude, with the funds raised intended for projects benefiting the youth in St. Paul’s. The page was established around the time of the Bristol demonstration that resulted in the toppling of a statue of Edward Colston into the harbor. A youth organization called Changing Your Mindset Ltd was created, which had a charitable purpose. Saleem became a director of the organization, but setting up a business account proved challenging at that time.
Judge Longman mentioned that the amount raised exceeded expectations, reaching over £32,000. However, since there was no business account available, the decision was made to temporarily deposit the funds into Saleem’s personal account. The judge emphasized that the others involved trusted Saleem to securely hold the money until a better arrangement could be made. Eventually, an account was set up in April 2021, but problems arose when the money wasn’t transferred, and Saleem offered various excuses for the failure to do so.
The prosecution revealed that Saleem transferred several hundred pounds into a relative’s account in July 2020, instructing them to hold it for her. From that point onwards, Saleem freely used the money without ensuring that sufficient funds were credited to the account to cover the shortfall. Saleem eventually admitted that the money was gone but provided contradictory excuses for its disappearance. She also offered to report herself to the police but failed to do so. In June 2021, WhatsApp messages were discovered in which Saleem discussed the fraud with a friend, expressing the need to sort it out before anyone was informed. Draft apology messages were also found on her phone. Saleem claimed to have suffered from psychosis, which she believed impaired her rational thinking.
Changing Your Mindset has since ceased operations, and Saleem, who expressed remorse, initially pleaded not guilty.
