IHRC is saddened by the passing of the pro-Palestine and anti-racism campaigner Maz Saleem.
Full obituary added 24 July 2026.
Contents
Remembering Maz Saleem 1974 – 2026
Maz (short for Masarrat) was almost a reluctant activist, thrust into the arena after the brutal murder of her octogenarian father in 2013 at the hands of a neo-Nazi near his home in Birmingham. Speaking in 2017, she described the horror of finding out:
I will never forget the day I received that phone call from my sisters on the 29th of April, 2013, sitting in my flat, those horrifying words etched in my brain forever, “Dad’s been stabbed,” my first sister called Fauzia. And then secondly my older sister called within seconds and said, “Dad’s dead.”
The horrific attack changed her life. Maz threw herself into the struggle against Islamophobia and racism, acquiring a reputation for fearlessness, even if it harmed her own interests. Police initially refused to accept that there was a racist motive for the attack, a matter that Maz contested fiercely.
… the police were very reluctant to call this a hate crime too. They came to our house, they investigated every other motive, but not the most obvious possible motive was not initially investigated. They came to our house and said, this is not a racist attack and we actually told them, yes it is and we challenged them every step of the way. When we confronted West Midlands Police about our concerns with the investigation, we were shocked to discover they were not even considering hate crime as a possible motive.
After forensic evidence linked one of the suspects (the only one later to be charged and convicted of the murder) with three attempted mosque bombings, did the situation change. As Maz reflected:
Now, Lapshyn is now serving 40 years for my father’s murder and for the three mass bombings in the West Midlands. I’d just like to point out now that they made that he’s a lone wolf, but we as a family know Lapshyn was a lone wolf on that night These are all acts of terrorism He was charged under terrorism laws yet to this day the media the police the government have not treated Pavlo as they would if the terrorists was a Muslim.
When Lee Rigby was murdered three weeks after my father his murder received global news coverage and cries of protest, but my father’s brutal terrorist murder on the streets of the UK received comparatively little attention. Instead of hashtags and discussions about the dangers of neo-Nazi beliefs, there was a deafening silence. A Muslim alleged terrorist on the other hand, would certainly have led to conversations about the dangers of radical Islamism.
Aside from the authorities who she accused of creating a hostile environment for racialised minorities, Maz was also critical of her own Muslim community which she felt had failed to diagnose the far-right problem and confront it.
She waged a solo battle to have her father’s murder recognised as an act of terrorism rather than just a racially motivated attack. Needless to say, her dogged, uncompromising, truculent style made her as many enemies as it did friends.
Maz was a regular contributor to IHRC and a loyal supporter. One of the last things she wrote before her passing was an emotive and typically hard-hitting piece on the anniversary of her father’s murder saying she had forgiven his killer but that Britain was still refusing to face the truth about the far-right terror it had helped to spawn. She also authored a longer piece on her experience of Islamophobia for The Long View. She volunteered with and worked on many causes, including with Stop the War, Stand Up to Racism, Justice For Shukri Abdi and others. Some of their tributes are posted below.
In 2017, IHRC presented her with a special award for her bravery and her unstinting stand against Islamophobia. She could be found at most pro-Palestine demonstrations, and other protests, including the Stand Up to Trump movement’s events, of which she was a founder member. She also authored numerous articles on the issues she was passionate about, including for CounterFire, Middle East Eye and 5Pillars.
In 2018, she was interviewed by Sayeeda Warsi for her BBC podcast, in which she discussed some of her frustrations as well as her insipartions.
Despite the emotional wounds she carried, Maz was always brimming with enthusiasm, a real livewire. Her courage is an inspiration to us and others. She will be sorely missed.
Fatiha.
Other Tributes
Sorry to hear of the death of Maz Saleem who’s father was murdered by a Ukrainian neo-nazi in 2013
We worked together on many campaigns including antiwar, antiracism and anti austerity.
She was tireless in seeking justice for her father, a real force of nature who always stood… https://t.co/P0rSoojvlW
IHRC is saddened to hear of the passing of activist and friend Maz Saleem. Maz became a campaigner for justice after the racist murder of her father, Mohammed, in April 2013. She faced refusal from the police that the crime was Islamophobic in nature, but maintained her ground. She was vindicated in her beliefs, when forensic evidence implicated the man eventually charged and convicted of the murder in three attacks on mosques in the area.
Maz was a feature of the anti-racist movement since 2015. She was the recipient of the IHRC Award for combatting Islamophobia in 2017 (pictured). Her written work on the issue was published widely. Two of her piece are linked below.
A fuller obituary will follow. Please remember Maz and all those who have passed away with Fateha.
ILWIIR: Maz Saleem
IHRC is saddened by the passing of the pro-Palestine and anti-racism campaigner Maz Saleem.
Full obituary added 24 July 2026.
Contents
Remembering Maz Saleem 1974 – 2026
Maz (short for Masarrat) was almost a reluctant activist, thrust into the arena after the brutal murder of her octogenarian father in 2013 at the hands of a neo-Nazi near his home in Birmingham. Speaking in 2017, she described the horror of finding out:
The horrific attack changed her life. Maz threw herself into the struggle against Islamophobia and racism, acquiring a reputation for fearlessness, even if it harmed her own interests. Police initially refused to accept that there was a racist motive for the attack, a matter that Maz contested fiercely.
After forensic evidence linked one of the suspects (the only one later to be charged and convicted of the murder) with three attempted mosque bombings, did the situation change. As Maz reflected:
Aside from the authorities who she accused of creating a hostile environment for racialised minorities, Maz was also critical of her own Muslim community which she felt had failed to diagnose the far-right problem and confront it.
She waged a solo battle to have her father’s murder recognised as an act of terrorism rather than just a racially motivated attack. Needless to say, her dogged, uncompromising, truculent style made her as many enemies as it did friends.
Maz was a regular contributor to IHRC and a loyal supporter. One of the last things she wrote before her passing was an emotive and typically hard-hitting piece on the anniversary of her father’s murder saying she had forgiven his killer but that Britain was still refusing to face the truth about the far-right terror it had helped to spawn. She also authored a longer piece on her experience of Islamophobia for The Long View. She volunteered with and worked on many causes, including with Stop the War, Stand Up to Racism, Justice For Shukri Abdi and others. Some of their tributes are posted below.
In 2017, IHRC presented her with a special award for her bravery and her unstinting stand against Islamophobia. She could be found at most pro-Palestine demonstrations, and other protests, including the Stand Up to Trump movement’s events, of which she was a founder member. She also authored numerous articles on the issues she was passionate about, including for CounterFire, Middle East Eye and 5Pillars.
In 2018, she was interviewed by Sayeeda Warsi for her BBC podcast, in which she discussed some of her frustrations as well as her insipartions.
Despite the emotional wounds she carried, Maz was always brimming with enthusiasm, a real livewire. Her courage is an inspiration to us and others. She will be sorely missed.
Fatiha.
Other Tributes
Original Obituary
Maz (Masarrat) Saleem has returned to her Lord.
IHRC is saddened to hear of the passing of activist and friend Maz Saleem. Maz became a campaigner for justice after the racist murder of her father, Mohammed, in April 2013. She faced refusal from the police that the crime was Islamophobic in nature, but maintained her ground. She was vindicated in her beliefs, when forensic evidence implicated the man eventually charged and convicted of the murder in three attacks on mosques in the area.
Maz was a feature of the anti-racist movement since 2015. She was the recipient of the IHRC Award for combatting Islamophobia in 2017 (pictured). Her written work on the issue was published widely. Two of her piece are linked below.
A fuller obituary will follow. Please remember Maz and all those who have passed away with Fateha.
I Forgave My Father’s Killer — But Britain Is Still Ignoring Islamophobic Terror 28 April 2026
The scourge of Islamophobia 12 February 2020
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