Jabron Hashmi

Infobox Military Person
name=Jabron Hashmi


caption= Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi in No2 Dress Uniform
lived= 23 April 1982 — July 1 2006
placeofbirth= Peshawar, Pakistan
placeofdeath= Sangin, Afghanistan
nickname=
allegiance=
branch=
serviceyears= 2004-2006
rank= Lance Corporal
commands=
unit=
battles=
awards=
Lance-Corporal Jabron Hashmi or Jibran Hashmi (23 April 1982—July 1, 2006) was the first British soldier of the Islamic faith to die in the War on Terror.

Hashmi was born in Peshawar, Pakistan, and moved to Britain with his family when he was 12. He joined the army in 2004. After completing his training for the Intelligence Corps at DISC, Chicksands, he was attached to 14 Signals Regiment, of the Royal Signals in January 2006 before being sent to Afghanistan. He was killed on 1 July 2006, in Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan as a result of a rocket attack on a Platoon House. His family described him as a "committed soldier. He was fiercely proud of being British."

"He went to Afghanistan hoping to build bridges between the east and the west. He has always wanted to serve his country since he was a little boy. We were born just 40 minutes from the Afghan border so he was very excited to get back over there and experience the culture."

"He combined his love of Islam with the love of Britain and his main reason for joining the army was to make a difference. He certainly did that. Jabron was a cheeky confident and outgoing young man. He was very caring towards his family and friends and a very caring person."

His Commanding Officer said: "Enthusiastic, confident and immensely popular, Lance Corporal Hashmi displayed all the qualities of a first class soldier. His enthusiasm for the role he had been given was simply outstanding. He was brimming with confidence and hugely keen to take part in all the training prior to the operation.

"Once deployed in Helmand Province, his skills proved vital in support of the 3 PARA Battlegroup, providing protection for his comrades in the highly demanding working conditions of Southern Afghanistan. A fine young man, his sad loss will be felt by us all."

After his death, some Muslims called him a traitor and an apostate to Islam. Mahmud Abdul Baari, a follower of the exiled preacher Omar Bakri Mohammed, called Hashmi a terrorist, adding: "Although born Muslim [he] grew up to become an apostate traitor to Islam and professional terrorist who unlike members of al-Qa'eda took a salary. However, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) paid tribute to L/Cpl Hashmi saying that although the Afghan conflict was unpopular with many Muslims, soldiers could not pick and choose their battles. Inayat Bunglawala, the MCB spokesperson said, "This is far from the first time Muslims have given their lives in the service of this country, many did so in the two World Wars, but in recent years they have been under-represented in the Army."

References

* [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/CorporalPeterThorpeAndLanceCorporalJabronHashmiKilledInAfghanistan.htm "Corporal Peter Thorpe and Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi killed in Afghanistan"] "Ministry of Defence:Defence News"
* [http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=35526&in_page_id=34 Don’t be afraid to serve as Muslims] (after the plot to kidnap and behead a Muslim soldier)
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/07/04/nafg04.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/07/04/ixuknews.html "Proud to be Muslim, a soldier and British"] " The Telegraph"
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/07/08/ufuneral.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/07/08/ixnews.html "Funeral for Muslim British soldier killed in Afghanistan"] "The Telegraph"
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7040219.stm Muslim soldier's death 'unlawful'] "BBC News"'
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1541390/Websites-denounce-British-Muslim-soldiers.html "Websites denounce British Muslim soldiers"] "The Telegraph"