Ahmed Iqbal Ullah: 40 Years On, Activists Fight Far Right 2026

Forty years after the tragic killing of Ahmed Iqbal Ullah, activists are calling for a renewed fight against the far right. Ahmed, a 13-year-old British Bengali schoolboy, was murdered in a racist attack at Burnage High School in south Manchester in 1986. His death sparked a national conversation about racism in education and continues to inspire antiracist work today.

His sister, Selina Ullah, remembers him as someone who embodied British values by standing up for others. “For my brother Ahmed, British values meant standing up for others. It was doing right. It was supporting and looking after the underdog, whoever that may be, regardless of their colour or background,” she says. Ahmed was killed after defending young pupils from bullying.

The Legacy of Ahmed Iqbal Ullah

Ahmed’s murder by a 13-year-old white British pupil, who was sentenced to the youth equivalent of life, was a landmark moment. The Macdonald inquiry into racism and racial violence in Manchester schools that followed sparked a national debate about antiracism in education. Today, Ahmed’s memory is at the heart of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre (AIU), which houses archives on Black figures in Manchester, community history on events such as Manchester carnival, and pan-African activism in the city and beyond.

The centre, founded in 1987 in Ahmed’s memory, stands as a testament to the power of solidarity across communities. It challenges the 1970s concept of “political Blackness” – a strategic multiracial alliance across groups affected by racism – which fell out of favour in the 1990s as it became seen as an inadequate reflection of differing experiences. Yet the story of AIU speaks to the enduring strength of unity in the face of hatred.

Why This Matters Today

Four decades on, the fight against the far right is as urgent as ever. Activists argue that the lessons from Ahmed’s death must not be forgotten. The rise of far-right rhetoric and violence in recent years has prompted calls for renewed vigilance and community solidarity.

Ahmed’s story reminds us that racism has real, devastating consequences. It also shows that standing up to bigotry can come at a terrible cost. But as Selina Ullah’s words suggest, the values of courage and compassion that Ahmed displayed are exactly what is needed to combat extremism today.

Key Takeaways

• Ahmed Iqbal Ullah was murdered in a racist attack in 1986 at age 13.
• His death led to the Macdonald inquiry and a national debate on antiracism in education.
• The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre preserves his legacy and promotes community solidarity.
• Activists call for a renewed fight against the far right, citing ongoing threats.
• Ahmed’s story highlights the importance of standing up for others, regardless of background.

The RACE Centre’s Role in Preserving History

The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre is more than an archive; it is a living resource for activists, researchers, and community members. It documents the histories of Black and minority ethnic communities in Manchester and beyond, ensuring that stories like Ahmed’s are not lost to time.

By providing access to these archives, the centre helps educate new generations about the struggles and triumphs of marginalized groups. It also serves as a hub for organizing and advocacy, connecting past struggles to present-day movements for justice.

Comparing Historical and Contemporary Antiracist Efforts

The fight against racism has evolved over the decades, but the core issues remain. The table below compares key aspects of antiracist efforts in the 1980s with those today. The background to this story is set out in Far-Right Candidate Accused of Stiffing Student $8,000. A related thread runs through Swedish Muslims Challenge Far Right Ahead of Election. Earlier coverage in Far Right Normalisation in Germany Threatens Democracy shows how the argument developed.

The Call to Action

Activists are urging communities to unite against the far right. They emphasize that silence is not an option and that everyone has a role to play in challenging racism and bigotry. Ahmed’s sacrifice serves as a powerful reminder of what is at stake. A closer look at the same subject appears in Sweden's Far Right Normalization: A Decade of Change. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Far Right Politics of Powerlessness: Real Weapon Explained. The same theme surfaces in Far-Right Republican Accused of Stiffing Student $8,000, which takes a different angle.

As we mark 40 years since his death, the message is clear: the fight for justice continues. By supporting organizations like the AIU RACE Centre and speaking out against hate, we can honor Ahmed’s memory and build a more inclusive society. Context on how this played out before sits in Portsmouth Lifeboat Station Shutdown After Far-Right Targeting. A companion piece, Sweden Democrats Election Setback Halts Far-Right Rise, approaches the same subject from another angle.