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The family of the first Muslim serviceman to die while fighting for the British Army in Afghanistan say they felt shunned at Birmingham’s main Remembrance Sunday event.

The family of Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi have had a long association with remembrance events, including the city’s annual civic parade and ceremony.

But for the past two years they have not received an invite to the commemoration from Birmingham City Council, despite having attended on every occasion since Jabron died in a Taliban rocket attack in Afghanistan in 2006.

On both occasions the family, from Small Heath, have had to approach the council via email to ask if they could attend, after which they were sent invites.

Yet when Jabron’s mother Imtiaz Bano, 67, and sister Tajalla Hashmi arrived for this year’s Remembrance Sunday event on Colmore Row, they say they were initially turned away from an entry point and then found no seats had been reserved.

Tajalla, 32, an NHS worker, said: “We have been attending every year since Jabron passed away but for the past two years we have not received an invite and we have had to email the organisers to ask to be invited.

"When we arrived this year there was a barrier controlled by a security guard who looked at our invite cards, called his manager and told us to go to the other side. We had to show our invites again to a lady who seemed to be an organiser.

"We were offered chairs at the side at first as most of the rows in the grandstand were reserved. My mother was asked to sit in one of the back rows and I sat behind her. No one said good morning or asked how we were, they didn’t seem to know who we were or why we were there – we didn’t feel welcome.”

(Image: @AdamFradgley)

Jabron was serving with the Intelligence Corps, but was attached to 14 Signal Regiment when he died on July 1 2006 – just six days shy of the first anniversary of the 7/7 bombings in London. He was just 24 years-old.

More than 400 mourners attended his funeral at Ghamkol Sharif Mosque and his family received support from far and wide.

But they have continued to honour all British servicemen, which has included Imtiaz laying the foundation stone for the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire before it was opened by The Queen.

However, they feel the council needs to do more to preserve the memory of around 30 servicemen from the West Midlands who died during the most recent conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq.

(Image: Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA Wire)

Tajalla said: “My family does not want any special treatment, we just want the council to know who the fallen servicemen and their families are.

"My brother gave his life for his country, but he wasn’t alone, he was among twenty or thirty servicemen from the West Midlands who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"At the very least, the council should have a list of the families whose loved ones have sacrificed their lives for their country, and their names should be read out at the service.”

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Jabron and his four siblings were born in Pakistan before they migrated to Birmingham while he was a child.

Together with his brother, Zeeshan, he signed up for the Army, with both keeping their military careers secret from their mother to stop her worrying.

Jabron was serving on the attachment with the 14 Royal Signal Regiment in Sangin, southern Afghanistan, when he was killed in a 107mm rocket attack.

His legacy remains as a proud Muslim who loved Britain and served with distinction, retaining his caring nature and sense of humour.

Zeeshan, who joined the Royal Artillery before being transferred to military intelligence, would complete two tours of Afghanistan and one of Kosovo before leaving the Army to take an Oriental Studies degree at Cambridge and subsequently set up a consultancy business.

Zeeshan said: "My mother looks forward to Remembrance Day events every year, and takes part with great pride. But for two years running our family has not been invited.

“Then, this year, after we’ve had to ask to attend, my mother was treated like riff-raff.

“We are not asking to be treated differently from any other service family, or to be mingling with the Lord Mayor and the various other dignitaries attending.

“But we want the council to be aware of who the service families from the West Midlands are, in particular those parents who have lost their sons and daughters in service of their country.”

Jabron's family want the council to have a greater awareness of veterans' families across all conflicts, including of those who made the ultimate sacrifice since 9/11 and to provide clarification around how the council invites people to remembrance events.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "We appreciate the bravery shown by our Armed Forces, and want to ensure that those who lost their lives while serving their country are remembered with respect.

“All members of the Armed Forces family - including serving personnel, veterans and their relatives – are very welcome to attend our Remembrance events, so they can pay their respects to friends, loved ones and colleagues.

“We send invitations to relatives of military personnel from Birmingham, who lost their lives in action (where known) as well as to local dignitaries, civic leaders and politicians.

“Seating in the grandstand is limited and seats are only reserved for official wreath layers and dignitaries, such as former Lord Mayors. However we do ensure every invited guest has a seat, so those without a reserved seat can take up any free spaces in the grandstand or in the additional seating provided."

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Son of Birmingham who served with pride

Even in the midst of one of the bloodiest years on record for British forces in Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi typified the British sense of duty.

Known for his mischievous sense of humour and unswerving loyalty to his country, loved ones and comrades, he had thrown himself into military life after joining the Army in June 2004.

As a Muslim serving the Union Flag, the former Bournville College student and son of Birmingham was one of a precious few. According to one estimate in 2015, more British Muslims were known to have travelled to Syria to join ISIS than to have signed up to the Army.

Jabron and his brother, Zeeshan, who also joined the military, felt they were building bridges,

At the same time, Jabron’s family views his sacrifice as no different from any other British soldier who has fallen in conflicts across the globe, past and present.

The Tupac fan had an exemplary record within the military, joining the Intelligence Corps before being attached to the Royal Signals in January 2006 and eventually being deployed to Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, in support of the 3 PARA Battlegroup.

The Lance Corporal died in a 107mm rocket attack on July 1, 2006.

Sergeant Peter Thorpe, serving with the Royal Signals, was also killed.

They have also continued to attend remembrance events, including in Birmingham and at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Tajalla Hashmi, Jabron’s younger sister, remembered the Brummie with the bright smile and boundless optimism.

“Jabron was always a jolly type of person, he loved making people laugh and he had a mischievous sense of humour,” she said.

“He was always caring towards his family and friends and always there when you needed him.”

Compared to the legacy of some of the terror masterminds who have hailed from the terraced streets near where Jabron grew up, there is little glare on his infinitely more positive story.

“Jabron was very proud to be a soldier and serve his country,” Tajalla added.

“It’s been thirteen years since he passed away, but it only feels like yesterday.

“It’s too soon to forget about his sacrifice.”