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Profile: Imran Khan

Imran Khan

07/01/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Profile, Imran Khan

What drives Imran Khan, the lawyer who led the fight for justice for Stephen Lawrence?

As two men begin life sentences for the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, Andy Denwood profiles Imran Khan the lawyer who helped the teenager's family in their fight for justice.

As two men begin life sentences for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, Andy Denwood profiles Imran Khan the lawyer who helped the teenager's family in their tireless fight for justice. When he was first contacted about the murder of a young black man in south London, Khan was a little known-solicitor who had qualified only 18 months earlier. He's since acted in some of the most high profile cases in recent British legal history. He represented the family of Victoria Climbie at the public inquiry into her death and has also been involved in major terrorist trials, including the 21st July London bombings. 

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1964, his family emigrated to England four years later. But life in 70's and 80's east London was tough. They were the only Asian family on their street and Khan would often get into fights at school. These early experiences are thought to have motivated him to fight against racism and injustice. They also shaped his political views and he stood in the 1997 general election for East Ham, representing Arthur Scargill's Socialist Labour Party.

Producer: Samantha Fenwick

NB This programme has been edited from the original broadcast in which we wrongly described the Socialist Labour Party as "defunct".

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