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SA woman's tragic bomb legacy
15/07/2005 21:55 - (SA)
Ivor Price, Die Burger
London - The trauma experienced by Farida Patel when police and TV cameras stormed her London home in the wake of last week's bombings was not something that she would wish on her worst enemy.
Khizar Iqbal, a friend of the South African-born woman, told Die Burger on Friday of Patel's "sorrow" after the death of her son-in-law in the suicide-bomb attacks.
Iqbal, a councillor for Dewsbury in London, said Patel, 58, was not a youngster any more.
"Somebody of her age should not be exposed to such trauma any more."
He said Patel, who originally came from Germiston on the East Rand, phoned him earlier in the week to say that Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, the husband of her daughter, Hasina, 27, had been connected to the London terrorist bomb attacks.
Forbidden
Although Iqbal refused to say where Patel was staying, he did say she had been forbidden to enter her home as London police were still fine-combing it for forensic clues.
Iqbal said he was convinced that, even though Patel was a community person second to none, the local community would not support her as they had in the past.
"Only time will tell.
"I'm afraid that a good person like her will be remembered by the people more for being related to a terrorist bomber," he said.
Khan, who died in the explosion at Edgware Road station, stayed near his mother-in-law.
He was a teacher who helped children with learning problems.
Patel, daughter of Ismail Patel of Germiston, a veteran of the anti-apartheid campaign and who spent 10 years under house arrest, was a languages teacher in London.
Married
She was married to Abdul-Salaam Patel, who died 15 months ago.
As far as could be ascertained, Patel herself was against the Islamic extremists and was an advocate for women's and children's rights.
Earlier this year, she led a campaign against government plans to close a school.
She also was on Queen Elizabeth's honours list for her community work.
Khan's widow, Hasina, is expecting their second child.
Patel shares her house with her son, Arshad, 28, his wife, Khadia, and their baby of eight months.
- Die Burger
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