YEP Says: Irfan Wahid's family dignity in the face of huge personal tragedy

There can be few things worse than losing a child, especially in tragic and utterly avoidable circumstances.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Feb 2017, 05:48 BST
Updated 1st Mar 2017, 07:57 BST
The Harehills community come together for a vigil for murdered teenager Irfan Wahid. PIC: Simon HulmeThe Harehills community come together for a vigil for murdered teenager Irfan Wahid. PIC: Simon Hulme
The Harehills community come together for a vigil for murdered teenager Irfan Wahid. PIC: Simon Hulme

But the sheer dignity and bravery of Irfan Wahid’s family a week after losing their 16-year-old son in a street stabbing is something to be respected and admired.

As thousands gathered to pay their respects to the beloved lad – known as ‘Iffy’ – in Harehills yesterday, (Feb 16) his father issued a message of peace and forgiveness, an act of huge symbolism which has already gone a long way to defusing potential tensions in the aftermath of his son’s killing.

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Many questions will no doubt be asked in the coming weeks and months about the reasons for Iffy’s death, and how it could have been avoided.

But in a time when it’s all too easy to dismiss today’s youth as aloof and irresponsible, let us recognise that Iffy’s peers and friends have truly taken his family’s message to heart.

From organising vigils, to fundraising to getting the #IffysWorld hashtag trending, they are already working hard to ensure Iffy’s passing leaves a legacy of love. As one of his childhood friends said yesterday: “Iffy’s World is everything that he did. He was humble, he was peaceful, he never did anything bad to anyone.” We all owe it to Iffy, his family, and each other, to keep the faith in our young people – and work towards #IffysWorld.