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It would have been so easy to demand ‘an eye for an eye’ and risk a race war on the riot-torn streets.
But with immense dignity, Tariq Jahan, whose 21-year-old son was mown down and killed in an apparently racist murder in Birmingham, appealed for calm yesterday.
Haroon Jahan was one of three young Muslims who died after they were thrown into the air ‘like tennis balls’ when they were hit by a car which mounted the pavement at 50mph while they were trying to protect local shops from looters on Tuesday night.
The shocking killings, the worst incident in four nights of rioting across Britain, left the city a tinderbox after it was confirmed that the man arrested on suspicion of murdering the Asians is black.
Locals claimed that Afro-Caribbean gangs had been prowling the area, setting light to cars and shouting at Muslims ‘you will burn’ just before the alleged murders.
As racial tensions rose to boiling point with some Muslims calling for ‘retribution’, 45-year-old Mr Jahan – who desperately tried to revive his dying son – urged people not to seek revenge.
Standing on a wall in front of a crowd he said: ‘I lost my son. Blacks, Asians, whites – we all live in the same community.
‘Why do we have to kill one another? Why are we doing this?
‘Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home – please.’
The Prime Minister, on a visit to Birmingham, offered his condolences for the ‘truly dreadful’ deaths.

Birmingham riots: Police release more CCTV pictures in bid to catch looters

 

West Midlands Police have made more than 300 arrests since the disturbances which blighted the region on Monday and Tuesday night, with 48 people detained last night.
The force had 1,000 officers on duty overnight - compared with 400 for each of Monday and Tuesday - with the situation across the region remaining calm.
They have now released more than 30 CCTV images of people they want to speak to in connection with the disorder and have begun the process of recovering "thousands of pounds worth" of items stolen by looters, executing a series of search warrants.
See the CCTV images released yesterday
In an unprecedented move, Solihull Magistrates' Court sat all night to help fast-track those charged in connection with the disorder in the region.
Chief Superintendent Phil Kay said: "This is a first for the West Midlands and has given us the opportunity to put before the courts the prisoners involved in the disorder in a really timely manner which helps speed up the judicial process."
Five people who appeared at Solihull Magistrates' Court overnight were sent to prison while one juvenile was bailed with strict conditions including an electronic curfew, West Midlands Police said.
Chief Superintendent Kay added: "Last night we worked closely with the communities of the West Midlands to appeal for calm and it is pleasing to see that these appeals were listened to and the streets remained quiet and peaceful.
"Our focus was on maintaining a high-visibility presence throughout the night and early hours, which helped prevent any further disorder.
"We have seen the benefits of social media being used responsibly to send positive messages about the situation in the West Midlands and to dispel malicious rumour and innuendo.
"We would like to thank the community for their ongoing support."
West Midlands Ambulance Service assistant chief ambulance officer Tracey Morrell said: "I would like to thank the public for their continued respect for the wishes of the families touched by the dreadful incident in Winson Green.
"Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time."