'Albinism means you are never invisible'
Summary
Naseem Akhtar and her five siblings, who grew up in Coventry with albinism, say they faced bullying and stigma because of their appearance. Akhtar has spoken publicly about the condition since childhood, while her brother Mohammed Rafi says he experienced greater acceptance as awareness grew.Key Facts
- Albinism affects melanin production and can cause differences in skin and hair color as well as vision problems.
- Both of Akhtar’s parents and all six of their children have albinism; the family has Pakistani heritage.
- Akhtar said she was bullied as a child and feared fireworks being thrown through the letterbox on bonfire night.
- Akhtar first spoke about albinism on local radio when she was about 11, hoping to challenge mistreatment and misunderstanding.
- Rafi, who is 32 and has poor eyesight, said he experienced more acceptance growing up than Akhtar had.
- The six siblings received a Guinness World Record in 2022 for the most siblings with albinism.
- The siblings’ children do not have albinism but carry the gene.
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