April 29th marks the 11th anniversary of 82 year old Mohammed Saleem’s murder in Birmingham by a Neo-Nazi terrorist – a tragedy that has become a symbol of the dire consequences of unchecked white supremacy and Islamophobia in the UK.
Led by his daughter, Maz Saleem, the #IAmMohammedSaleem campaign this year is not only remembering a lost father, but is also battling the systemic injustices that enabled his death.
Maz Saleem said: “This year’s commemoration comes at a time when the voices against oppression, particularly regarding the plight of Palestinians, are being aggressively silenced, using the same far-right racism, demonisation and Islamophobia that led to the murder of Mohammed Saleem.
“Whether it is Islamophobic murders by neo-nazis in Birmingham, or the dehuminsation and mass killing of Gazans, the root is the same political agenda to dehumanise black and brown people at home and abroad, until their lives are violently disposable.
“This the violent tip of a decades long Islamophobia, that started well before the age of the ‘War on Terror’ but entered a new phase in the 2000’s and a horrifying culmination today. The systemic and institutional Islamophobia that leads to street racism is a part of Muslims every day life.
“The censorship faced by activists like Maz Saleem, who had nearly a million followers on her social media platforms before they were recently shut down for pro-Palestinian posts, reveals a troubling effort to suppress solidarity with Gaza and critique of global and local injustices.
“The fight against white supremacy and the defence of Palestinian rights are intrinsically linked. My father’s murder was not just an act of an isolated extremist; it was a reflection of a broader societal issue that allows such hate to flourish. Today, our campaign faces significant censorship, limiting our ability to speak out during critical times.”
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Haji Mohammed Saleem, 82, was murdered as he walked home from the mosque by Pavlo Laphsyn, a Ukrainian neo-Nazi, who also carried out three mosque bombings in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Tipton.
And after his arrest, Lapshyn told police he wanted to start a race war in the U.K.
Laphsyn is serving a 40 years sentence at HMP Wakefield, a high security prison in the UK. In 2020 he pleaded guilty to making an explosive substance whilst imprisoned after admitting to prison officers he had been preparing chemicals in his cell.
An experienced chemical engineer, Laphsyn used substances including salt, copper wire and a pencil to form what a forensic expert confirmed was a viable explosive substance.
The #IAmMohammedSaleem campaign is demanding that:
- The UK government adopts a formal definition of Islamophobia that recognises the deep-seated racism and xenophobia fuelling hate crimes.
- A concerted effort is launched to combat the censorship that stifles discussion and activism related to Palestinian rights and broader issues of racism and xenophobia.
Under the administration of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, alongside unsettling remarks from senior Conservative Lee Anderson, the Muslim community has witnessed a disturbing increase in hate crimes.
A recent interview on Sky News with Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled a staggering 330% rise in reported Islamophobic incidents.
Maz Salem added: “This isn’t just about remembering my father; it’s about fighting for a future where no one else has to suffer as he did. We will not let his death be in vain. We will continue to challenge the white supremacy that took his life and the censorship that tries to silence our voices.
“The government and media’s failure to act and hold accountable those who foster Islamophobia is enabling this hate to thrive. It also silences those of us committed to fighting it. On this anniversary of my father’s death, we are starkly reminded that our battle against hate is more crucial than ever.”
