A fundraising appeal for a Syrian refugee who was brutally stabbed in Edinburgh last week has raised almost £4,000 in less than 24 hours.

Shabaz Ali, a 25-year-old Syrian refugee was stabbed repeatedly in his chest and stomach after intervening to protect his young female cousin at a run hostel in the city’s Upper Gilmore Place..

His father Sivan said he could hear his sons’ attackers shout “Why are you still here, why are you not back in your own country?” as they struck his son.

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The family are said to be Syrian refugees from Kobane, Northern Syria, who fled death to live in Scotland five years ago.

Ali was working as a barber in Portobello, and staying in a Council hostel as he looked for a new home.

His cousin was also living in the hostel, occupying a room two doors down.

Police Scotland said a 17-year-old man has been charged over the incident at a flat in the city's Upper Gilmore Place.

Anti-racism campaigners condemned the alleged attack and set up an online appeal for donations "to help Shahbaz recover and rebuild his life".

Read more: Boy, 13, shot in head in London was ‘innocent’ bystander

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police in Edinburgh are investigating after a 25-year-old man was seriously injured at a flat in Upper Gilmore Place shortly after 12am on Thursday May 3.

"A 17-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with this incident and appeared before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday May 4.”

The family has now instructed refugee and migrant homelessness charity, Positive Action in Housing to take up Shabaz’s housing case.

Read more: Boy, 13, shot in head in London was ‘innocent’ bystander

Robina Qureshi, Director of refugee and migrant homelessness charity, Positive Action in Housing, said: “The fundraising appeal has raised almost £4000 in less than 24 hours. We hope Shabaz and all refugees feel reassured that in Scotland we show Zero Tolerance to Racism.

“We have room for refugees and no room for a hostile environment. As a charity, we and our supporters are not prepared to stand by and tolerate our refugee and migrant communities being treated with hostility.

“Shabaz repeatedly expressed concerns to the council about safety at the hostel but the family say that Edinburgh City Council were not listening.

“He has today instructed us to take up his case regarding what this assault and to urge Edinburgh City Council to provide safe housing in the city. He will need to leave hospital at some point and clearly cannot return to the hostel.

Read more: Boy, 13, shot in head in London was ‘innocent’ bystander

“We have also had reports today of Syrian refugee families in Midlothian suffering racist abuse and stone throwing’ we need concerted action from the police and the local authority to get their house in order, find out what is going on on the ground and to act with Zero tolerance to racist hate crimes.

Read more: Boy, 13, shot in head in London was ‘innocent’ bystander

“What we cannot do is hide and pretend this is not happening. Refugee families are suffering racist abuse in Scotland and it’s up to decent people to stand up for their rights and ensure that the culprits are dealt with and that the local authorities , and in Shabaz’s case Edinburgh City Council, act sensitively to rehouse and evict the culprits.”

"Anyone with information which may be able to help can contact Gayfield CID via 101."