Muslim British army veteran shares story on Remembrance Day

A Muslim war veteran, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has talked about overcoming racism, war and living with PTSD.

Father-of-two Kayam Iqbal, 42, swears by the importance of talking openly about problems to change the culture of silence, while surrounding yourself with people you can relate to – something he lives by each day working with wounded veterans.

The 41-year-old Wycombe resident joined the Royal Air Force at 18 as a medic, and later he worked with languages and specialist human intelligence units in Afghanistan.

When he decided to join the army in 1999, he said 'everybody was proud'.

Mr Iqbal, originally from Manchester, said: “I wasn’t going anywhere, I rebelled against everybody, working in really terrible jobs when I was young.

“Friends and family in the Muslim community, everybody was happy for me joining.”

Then the 9/11 attacks in the US happened, and he said the atmosphere changed for the worse for many people of colour, including Mr Iqbal.

“I was based at RAF Uxbridge, and going out with friends or doing anything in town I was called the P-word.

“My nose was broken several times, fractured skull and things like that.”

Returning to his home at the time in Manchester, he was shocked when some people from the Muslim community called him ‘kafir’, an Islamic term meaning an infidel, to insult him for joining the “white man’s army”, he said.  

“It was quite horrific, and looking back now I don’t quite know how I got through that.”

Going to Iraq in 2003 felt like the right thing to do at the time as a medic considering the situation with Saddam Hussein’s regime, the political narrative fed by Tony Blair and George Bush and Mr Iqbal’s personal experiences against the backdrop of active far-right groups like the BNP, he said.

“There it was different. You’re still being fed that information and lies somewhat of what we were led to believe.

“Subsequently years later it was extremely difficult to comprehend why we did that.

“What I saw with my eyes changed me forever.

“Looking back, it was the time I probably suffered my first mental health issues from seeing children [severe burned] and gunshot wounds being a medic.”

Later serving in Afghanistan in 2007 he witnessed brutalities committed by one “extremely ruthless” Taliban commander, who acted as the “judge, jury and executioner” in the Southern Helmand region.  

Kayam Iqbal with members of the Royal Navy outside No 10 Downing Street (left), and in Afghanistan working with civilians (Image: Kayam Iqbal)

The Taleban commander reportedly brutalised civilians with a sword he carried, including children and those, who spoke to foreign forces.

“He was so prolific, and that certainly had an impact, as did many other incidents.”  

The trauma Mr Iqbal had witnessed led him to be medically discharged for severe PTSD.

Although talking support wasn’t available for him at first, he commends the armed forces now for how much understanding and support around mental health has improved.

He said: “It was a difficult time.”

Despite a lack of CV and desirable employment skills like IT, he secured a job as a change analyst after he pleaded to be given one chance following an interview that 'didn’t go that well' - Mr Iqbal describes it like 'something out of a Hollywood movie'.

“That was life changing,” he said.

He also got help for his severe PTSD symptoms, which included not sleeping due to recurring nightmares. 

The experiences led him to find The OppO Foundation helping war veterans around six years ago, which now takes him around the country to talk to young people, minority communities and world leaders among others.

Despite the harrowing experiences, “it’s good to talk,” he said.

“Knowing that I and the charity can make a small difference to people is good.  

“I don’t do it out of pity, I do it to try and shake up the military charity tree, and cause a bit of change.”

Mr Iqbal will be laying down the wreath on Remembrance Day for the first time as part of the memorial service in High Wycombe. 

Remembrance Day service in High Wycombe on Sunday November 13 will start with a march on High Street followed by wreath laying and a two minute silence at 11.00am at the war memorial at All Saints Church in High Wycombe, followed by a service in All Saints Church.