Oldham Council has condemned 'vile' and 'racist' comments made after the selection of the town's youth mayor, Hassan Ali Jabbar, amid what it described as a 'wave of hateful abuse'.
Youth Mayor Appointment
Last week, Hassan Ali Jabbar from Hollinwood was announced as the latest youngster to take on the role. He is a member of Oldham Youth Council, an elected body run by and for young people, giving them a voice in local issues. The youth mayor is a formal and civic role, acting as 'an ambassador for the town and an inspirational role model for young people'. Hassan will shadow mayor councillor Pam Byrne.
The former Oasis Academy Oldham student is currently completing a mechanical engineering apprenticeship. He has also served on the Greater Manchester Police Youth Scrutiny Panel, aimed at strengthening relationships between young people and GMP, and has campaigned on issues around mental health.
Hassan's Vision
“I am excited for my youth mayor year and looking forward to meeting as many different people as possible,” Hassan said. “This year, I would like to bring people together no matter who they are. I want Oldham to be somewhere everyone feels welcomed.”
Council's Response to Abuse
On a Facebook post announcing the appointment, many wished him well. Former mayor Eddie Moores said: “I had the pleasure of hosting the Youth Mayor Making Ceremony, it was a pleasure to meet Hassan with his family and friends. He will be a credit to the borough.”
Below the original post, council bosses added: “To anyone who thinks it is okay to come to our page and leave racist comments – you are not welcome here. This is a post about the youth mayor of all people. To make this the target of your hatred is vile, and you should be ashamed.”
Community Support
Oldhamer Paul John O’Neill said: “To sneer at a young person achieving something and doing something so positive with his life shows them up as people who are angry, unhappy and have likely not achieved anything in life, which of course is why they are so unpleasant. Well done for calling it out.”
The Oldham Bangladeshi Society said it welcomed the town hall’s words, which made it clear 'hate has no place in the community'. The announcement, it added, 'was overshadowed by a number of racist comments posted online' and 'a wave of hateful abuse' despite 'hundreds of supportive messages congratulating Hassan on his appointment'.
The organisation’s statement read: “The council’s response has been widely welcomed by many residents, with people praising its zero-tolerance approach to racism and hate. This is exactly what people should expect from their council. Standing up against racism, supporting every community and making it clear that everyone deserves respect, regardless of their background. The actions of a small minority should never define Oldham or overshadow the achievements of young people who are trying to make a positive difference.”
