The family of a 12-year-old refugee schoolgirl who drowned in a river say she was being bullied and they don't believe her death was an accident.
Shukri Yahya Abdi's grief-stricken mother, Zamzam Ture, has rejected a police probe which found the young girl's death in the River Irwell was not suspicious, and claims her daughter was "denied the truth".
The family allege Shukri was being bullied by fellow pupils at her school in Bury, Greater Manchester, and they have accused staff of failing to protect her.
Responding to claims that the schoolgirl was pushed into the river, Greater Manchester Police spokesman told Mirror Online the probe found no truth to the allegations, adding: "It doesn't match with our investigation."
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The force has described Shukri's death as "an incredibly tragic incident" and said “there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this time".
Police have dismissed claims Shukri was pushed into the river which have gone viral on social media.
After the Broad Oak Sports College pupil drowned in the river in Bury on June 27, police issued a warning over the dangers of playing or swimming in open water.
But her mum said Shukri didn't know how to swim and doesn't believe she was there to swim.
The family doesn't believe she would go to the river miles from her home with children from her school.
Shukri is understood to have been with two other girls when she ended up in the river.
Maz Saleem, who has been supporting the family and a campaign for a wider investigation into the death, wrote on Facebook: "It is alleged that Shukri was constantly bullied at the school and was led to the river. According to her family she couldn't swim."
In a video posted on social media, Ms Ture said: "The police said [to me] your daughter died in an accident, she was playing with other kids, she died there.
"The other kids were not wet or harmed, so it was a denial.
"She was denied the truth.
"The police haven't shown us any evidence. I have no proof of what happened."
Ms Ture, whose family came to the UK two years ago as refugees from wartorn Somalia, added: "The school where my daughter was bullied ... I had been complaining to forever."
The devastated mum claims she had complained to the school "many times" about children who were allegedly bullying her daughter.
She said: "I told them to discipline them or to keep [Shukri] behind and I would pick her up.
"I asked them if they would be responsible for her wellbeing everyday. I would pick her up in the afternoon.
"A boy who bothered my daughter multiple times, I visited the school and his family.
"He said all the kids were insulting her and so he did too.
"He said that's why he did it, the other kids were doing it too.
"He's at home now. He has been excluded."
Ms Ture said she wants to "see justice" for her daughter.
She added: "If the rights we came to the country for exist, I want something done.
"My daughter didn't go to a river, she doesn't know it, her school is four minutes away.
"She used to go to an Islamic school that she loved. She would be one of the first at the school. She was a prefect. She would help the teachers."
The family has accused the media of censoring their claims.
Shukri's cousin, Mustaf Omar Mohamed, Shukri’s, told the Muslim news website 5 Pillars: “The police has told the media that it was a tragic accident so they have just repeated that, but we don’t think that stacks up.
"We don’t believe it was an accident, we believe there is more to this story and we don’t believe we are getting the answers and support we deserve from the police and the school."
He added: “We know that Shukri was being bullied and so do the school and the police. It was name-calling and physical. I don’t know why she was being bullied but she was a timid, scared, vulnerable girl so she was an easy target. Her mum went to the school to report it and was even in the process of taking her out of the school."
He said the family want a "proper investigation" by the police and the school.
Shukri's family and their supporters are holding a protest outside Broad Oak Sports College on Friday afternoon to "unite and share our concerns for the safety of our children" at the school, according to a poster circulating online.
A petition calling for an investigation into the school's handling of bullying allegations has more than 21,000 signatures.
Mirror Online has contacted Broad Oak Sports College for comment.
Head teacher Paul Greenhalgh had previously paid tribute to Shukri, and sent a letter home to parents describing plans for a permanent memorial at school.
A statement from Greater Manchester Police read: "Please note that we will not be commenting on matters that are not police matters as it is not appropriate to do so.
"This includes family and school matters.
"For water safety matters, please contact the fire service.
"Should there be any developments in this case, we will issue it proactively.
"Thank you for your understanding."
After the incident, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Steve Wilcock said the girl had been with two friends.
He said: "When the crews arrived on the scene, there were two other children who had seen their friend disappear in the river."
