Tariq Jahan unites a grieving nation

It was a moment which could have triggered inter-communal war and bloodshed on the streets of Birmingham. Three British Asian men were killed in the Winson Green area when they were mowed down by a speeding car in the early hours of last Wednesday. And it turned out the suspect driving the car and possible occupants were Black.

That would have been enough to spark off something bigger than youths in hoodies looting from high street chains or booze from the local convenient stores. After all, there is history of inter-communal violence in Birmingham, with the Lozells riots in 2005 ending in the death of two young men.

But fears of angry young Asian men looking to avenge the death of Haroon Jahan, 21, along with brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31 were somewhat lessened following the actions of one man who has become almost a beacon of sanity and dignity.

Tariq Jahan, who hours earlier tried in vain to revive his son, issued an impassioned plea which struck a chord not only with the locals but from all communities up and down the country.

With the look of a man with something missing in his heart but all the courage to not to let his emotions go, he addressed the locals and the media, finishing his speech with words which not even the police or politicians could have done.

"I lost my son. Blacks, Asians, Whites - we all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill one another? Why are we doing this? Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home - please."

There stood a man, who could have so easily shunned the spotlight and grieve in private. And in doing so, the situation in Birmingham could have been so much worse that it doesn't bear thinking about. But Mr Jahan chose to speak up, and his words could just have saved Birmingham descending into chaos.

The three men who died have been labelled as martyrs, sacrificing their lives to defend their community. Some would say they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe it was their destiny to give up their lives so others could learn from it and put aside their differences to create a better society.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the funeral service which takes place today. There will be many who didn't know the men or their families, but realise the price they have paid and want to pay their respects.

As for Mr Jahan and the families of Shahzad and Abdul, it will be a time to say their final farewell to their loved ones. But they, along with the nation, will forever remember them as heroes who died for a cause, And no one will forget the grieving father who helped unite a nation using his words as a weapon of peace.

Zohaib Rashid

Picture: Tariq Jahan at a peace rally