Former Sheffield councillor battling Covid-19 - days after virus kills his father

A former Sheffield councillor and respected community leader is battling Covid-19 days after the virus claimed his father’s life.
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Ibrar Hussain, who represented Burngreave ward as a Labour councillor for 16 years, was admitted to hospital with coronavirus yesterday evening, Wednesday, September 23, according to his close friend Nasar Raoof.

His father, Sardar Khan, had died with the virus the day before and his funeral took place on Wednesday.

Former Sheffield councillor Ibrar Hussain is in hospital with coronavirusFormer Sheffield councillor Ibrar Hussain is in hospital with coronavirus
Former Sheffield councillor Ibrar Hussain is in hospital with coronavirus
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Mr Hussain’s good friend and political inspiration, Mohammed Iqbal, who preceded him as a councillor, also died on the Tuesday, though it is not known whether his death was connected to coronavirus.

Mr Raoof told how he and the entire community were praying for the ‘beloved activist’ to make a swift and full recovery.

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He said Mr Hussain had messaged him on Wednesday saying he was struggling to breathe and had ‘no strength’. He has since been discharged but remains ‘very weak’.

"Ibrar is the reason I got into the Labour party and he’s a father figure for me politically,” he said.

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"He’s a very important person for this community, and there’s never been a councillor like him. You could ring him at two or three in the morning and he would be there to help.

"He helped set up the Sheffield Muslim community service and has secured lots of funding for groups in the area over the years. He’s a phenomenal person and we’re all praying for him.”

Mr Hussain is also a GMB rep for Sheffield and in recent months has highlighted concerns about a lack of social distancing in Page Hall.