Muhammad Idrish was born in 1950, Faridpur, central Bangladesh. After studying Physics at Dhaka University, he came to the UK in 1976 for postgraduate training in optical technology at Bristol Polytechnic. He later married and applied to remain in the UK as the spouse of a British citizen, which was granted. Refused permanent residency following the break-up of his marriage, Muhammad was threatened with deportation. He fought back.
A campaign to stop Muhammad’s deportation received widespread support, and his trade union NALGO (now UNISON) took up the fight nationally. For the first time, a common purpose was established; black people and working people fighting collectively against racism and for justice. After three years of public campaigning, a London court ruled in his favour, and the Government was forced to reverse its decision.
After winning his campaign, Muhammad was actively involved in setting up of West Midlands Anti Deportation Campaign and the National Coalition of Anti Deportation Campaigns. These two organisations successfully campaigned for scores of individuals and families.
Muhammad retrained as an Immigration Advisor and worked for nearly thirty years with the Asian Resource Centre – a voluntary sector, civil rights organisation based in the Handsworth district of Birmingham. He is now retired from paid employment but still active in campaigns for justice and equality. He lives with his partner Heather, in Birmingham
When asked about his experiences with racism, Muhammad says:
“I came into this country a perfectly good, honest man, making a good, honest living. They wanted to deport me. And I asked them, ‘Why me?’ I could not get an answer except the fact that I was a Black person.”
