A FATHER-OF-SIX who says he was brutally attacked outside his Bradford home for converting to Christianity from Islam hopes to have recovered enough to join a multi-faith peace rally in the city on Saturday.

Nissar Hussain, who only left hospital at the weekend after thugs left him with a broken kneecap and hand which needed surgery, hopes to be at the peaceful protest in Norfolk Gardens along with other campaigners from the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), other converts and supporters.

"I've been invited to the rally and I'm humbled by people's support. I hope to be well enough to support them in return," he said.

Organisers at the BPCA are hoping the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev Toby Howarth, and imams from the city's mosques will also take part to show a united front against persecution.

Police are still investigating the attack on Mr Hussain, 49, which happened on November 17 in St Paul's Road, Manningham, as he was about to get into his car to safely park it outside Lawcroft House Police Station.

CCTV at Mr Hussain's home recorded the 13-seconds-long attack which started when two hooded men got out of a car which pulled up on the other side of the road. One beat him with a pickaxe handle while the other used punches and kicks.

Mohammed Fiaz, formerly of Bradford, who converted from Islam to Christianity in his teens, is one of the rally's organisers.

He said petitions will be handed over to Bradford Council and sent to Downing Street calling for more help for victims of hate crime because of their faith.

Mr Fiaz said he hoped people of all faiths would come and join the demonstration at Norfolk Gardens from 2pm.

Police said they were aware of Saturday's vigil and have previously confirmed the attack on Mr Hussain was being treated as a religious hate crime.

A police spokesman said: "Inquiries are continuing into the attack on Mr Hussain and we are still appealing for information about a red or maroon coloured saloon car which would have been seen in the Manningham area prior to the incident.

"This is believed to have been an old shape Honda Civic or a Rover 400.

"All reports of hate crime are taken seriously and West Yorkshire Police remains committed to working with partners to identify and, where appropriate, prosecute those who commit such crimes.

"Safeguarding measures have been put in place around Mr Hussain and his family, and investigations are continuing into a number of previous allegations involving Mr Hussain, to establish what offences have occurred and whether they could be linked to the assault."

But Mr Hussain has complained it has taken the attack on him for the force to recognise what his family has been going through.

He said they had endured a life of harassment, intimidation and fear from sections of the Muslim community since 2008 when they appeared in a Channel 4 documentary about the mistreatment of Muslim converts.

Anyone with information about the attack should contact Detective Constable 6316 Pearman at Bradford District CID on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The BPCA has started a petition in the wake of the attack on Mr Hussain. To view it go to petitionbuzz.com/petitions/apostasybychoice