A dad who became a national symbol of peace after losing his son in the Birmingham riots has repeated a call for a public enquiry - six years on from the tragedy.
Haroon Jahan 20, Abdul Musavir, 30 and his brother Shahzad Ali, 31 were killed by a speeding car as they defended their Winson Green community from looters during the 2011 disturbances. Hours after cradling son Haroon as he died in the street, dad Tariq Jahan called for calm with his now famous words: “Step forward if you want to lose your son. Otherwise calm down and go home”.
There were no further riots the following night.
A trial saw eight men acquitted of murder over the three deaths.
Mr Jahan has now repeated a demand for a public enquiry into the tragedy. In a Facebook update he said: “6 years on...3 lives lost...still no justice!
“Feels only like it was yesterday. Such a shame that everyone’s efforts have come to no avail as of yet, still struggling to get answers as politicians say it costs too much for an enquiry.
“Nonetheless, we shall keep the fight ongoing and use our energy in doing good through the charity ‘Haroon Tariq Jahan Foundation’. Mr Jahan spoke to the Birmingham Mail on the fifth anniversary of the tragic deaths of the three men. He said he had taken strength from Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered Stephen Lawrence, who waited 19 years to see his killers jailed.
The Haroon Tariq Jahan Foundation was set up following an aid trip to Syria in 2012 and has since sent containers packed with donated clothes, toiletries, food and blankets to refugees in Lesbos, Greece.
Speaking about the work of the charity, Mr Jahan said: “Just putting your arm around someone and them knowing a fellow human being cares makes a huge difference to them.“We’re also helping the homeless here in Birmingham. This is something, a legacy I want to leave in my son’s name. A positive legacy after all that’s happened.”
