Prominent activists and anti-racism groups have taken to social media to express their sadness following the passing of Maz Saleem, a beloved anti-racism activist who spent years confronting rising racism in Britain after her father was murdered by an Islamophobic far-right terrorist in 2013.
The news was announced online on Sunday, sending shock and sadness across the British Muslim community. Maz was a regular contributor to 5Pillars and was considered a friend of the platform during the height of her career as a passionate activist.
It is not clear what the circumstances surrounding her death were but, out of respect, the family’s privacy during this difficult time is being preserved.
Reacting to the news, 5Pillars editor and founder Roshan Salih said: “I’ve just been informed that the campaigner Maz Saleem has passed away. Maz was the daughter of Mohammed Saleem, who was murdered by a Nazi in Birmingham in 2013. Maz was a regular contributor to 5Pillars and a tireless campaigner against Islamophobia and racism. She was incredibly dismayed that racism and Islamophobia in the UK had actually increased since her dad’s murder and the lessons from it had not been learned. She was probably in her late 40s so this is tragic news. I don’t know the circumstances of her passing but I do know she never recovered from her dad’s killing and had many personal struggles over the years. May Allah forgive her sins, reward her for her good deeds and grant her Jannah. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”
Who was Maz Saleem?
Many first came to know Maz after the horrific murder of her father, 82-year-old Haji Mohammed Saleem, who was killed in Britain’s first recognised far-right terrorist attack targeting a Muslim in 2013. Faced with unimaginable grief, she refused to allow hatred to define her. Instead, she dedicated herself to ensuring that her father’s legacy would become one of justice, truth and hope rather than fear and division.
Maz became a tireless campaigner against anti-Muslim hatred and all forms of racism in Britain. She spoke with remarkable courage, challenging governments, institutions and the media whenever they failed to confront the reality of Islamophobia. Yet despite the pain she carried, she consistently called for compassion, unity and humanity.
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Those who met her will remember not only her determination, but also her warmth, sincerity and unwavering faith in the power of ordinary people to make a difference.
During her time as an activist, she wrote many opinion articles for platforms including Counterfire, featured in The Guardian and assisted in the production of various documentaries. She also worked closely for a time with activist groups such as Stop the War and Stand Up To Racism.
In 2019, she played a crucial role in assisting the family of Shukri Abdi, a British-Somali schoolgirl who drowned in a river in Bury, Greater Manchester. She worked closely with Abdi’s mother, who fought a lengthy legal battle over concerns surrounding Shukri’s death.
In 2021, she spearheaded a campaign to apply pressure on the UK government to adopt an Islamophobia definition—one that was created by and for British Muslims. It was a cause she continued to champion until her untimely death.
In April 2026, in her last written contribution for 5Pillars, Maz wrote that she forgave the man who murdered her father. But Britain still hasn’t faced the truth about why he was killed.
Reactions and tributes
John Rees, an activist with Stop the War, posted on X: “It’s only a few weeks ago that I was walking towards the Stop the War office and I heard someone calling me by name. I turned around and it was Maz Saleem. I’d worked with her when she was in the Stop the War office. She was an incredibly brave and effective campaigner, turning the anger she felt at the murder of her father by a Nazi into a righteous energy. She was very warm to me personally and sent her love to all at Stop the War. She looked well and happy and I had no idea that it was the last time I would see her.”
The Unite Against Fascism X account posted: “Maz Saleem has very sadly died. She was a great fighter. Her tenacity as a campaigner after her father was killed by a Nazi in 2013 was inspiring. Maz had a great smile which lit up the world. Much love to her family & many friends. Bless her.”
Stand Up To Racism posted: “Remembering Maz Saleem who has passed away. Maz’s father Mohammed Saleem was murdered by a neo-Nazi & white supremacist in 2013. In response, Maz became a prominent & powerful activist, opposing racism, Islamophobia & war. All our thoughts are with her family & friends.”
Also 5Pillars correspondent Robert Carter, who had met and interviewed her many times over the years, said: “Her death is a profound loss not only for her family and loved ones, but for Britain’s Muslim community and all those who stood alongside her in the struggle against racism and Islamophobia.”
Concillor Mohammed Shafiq said he was devastated by the news.
“Devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Maz Saleem, a fearless anti-racism and anti-Islamophobia campaigner, whose beloved father, Mohammed Saleem, was murdered by a far-right neo-Nazi extremist in 2013 in Birmingham. I first met Maz in late 2013 while covering her father’s murder and the subsequent trial. From that moment on, she dedicated her life to ensuring his story was never forgotten and to challenging racism and hatred wherever it appeared. Maz was courageous, principled and utterly relentless in her fight for justice. She never shied away from speaking her mind and always stood up for what she believed was right. We didn’t always agree—she once challenged me robustly during an interview—but even in disagreement she remained compassionate and sincere.”
The official account for Justice For Shukri Abdi expressed great sadness at the news.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Justice4Shukri campaigner and Anti-Racism campaigner Maz Saleem. Maz was one of the founding members of our team, supported the family and fought to expose the tragedy of Shukri’s death from the very beginning. Maz was no stranger to fighting for justice on a personal level, when her own father Haji Mohammad Saleem was murdered by a Neo-Nazi terrorist in Birmingham in 2013, transforming her life trajectory and into a force in helping fight racism and supporting families of injustice.”
MEND spoke up for the great legacy that Maz has left behind: “We are very sad to hear of the passing of Maz Saleem. She was a staunch ant-racist who campaigned tirelessly against Islamophobia. Maz’s own dear father, Mohammed Saleem, was murdered by a far-right terrorist. May Allah swt give her peace and unite her with her father in the highest of heavens and grant her loved ones sabr.”
Maz leaves behind a legacy that will endure far beyond her years. She showed that dignity can triumph over bitterness, that courage can emerge from tragedy, and that one determined individual can inspire an entire community to stand taller in the face of injustice.
We pray that Allah (SWT) forgives her shortcomings, accepts her life’s efforts in the cause of justice as among her good deeds, grants her the highest ranks of Jannatul Firdaus, and reunites her with her beloved father in eternal peace.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
