A COMMUNITY worker fighting plans to deport him to his homeland has died of cancer at the age of 36.
Mohammad Hussain lost his battle against the disease which was diagnosed on his release from a detention centre earlier this year.
Mr Hussain fled from the Iraqi Kurdistan city of Ibril to Doncaster eight years ago claiming he was threatened by t
he Kurdish Democratic Party who held him responsible for the death of one of its members in a medical error.
Although he was not allowed to work while in Doncaster, the former head of a hospital blood unit became treasurer of the Doncaster Focus Group - a body for refugee and migrant volunteers - and a campaigner for refugees and human rights.
Campaigners successfully stopped Mr Hussain being deported after he was taken to Lindholme removal centre, near Thorne, in May.
He was trying to be granted refugee status until his death earlier this month.
Radmila Fortune-West, co-ordinator for Doncaster Focus Group, paid tribute to Mr Hussain.
She said: "Despite the pain of his illness and emotional suffering of being separated from his family Mohammad never stopped caring and fighting for others.
"He was a great man with a big heart and is hugely missed by all his friends in Doncaster as well as his family, and comrades in the
International Federation of Iraq Refugees."
Mr Hussain's funeral service was held at Hyde Park Mosque before his body was flown home to Iraq for a burial by his family.
Friends are planning a celebration of his life, details of which will be posted on the Northern Refugee Centre w-ebsite: www.nrcentre.org.uk.
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