Family and friends of a Bradford activist who died while campaigning during last year’s Parliamentary elections are starting a scholarship in his name on the anniversary of his death.

Dad-of-one Abu Bakr Rauf, a Bradford Respect party campaigner, died suddenly from a heart condition last March, aged 28, while campaigning with Bradford West MP George Galloway. The scholarship fund will pay for Palestinian students to attend a university in Gaza and it is hoped that enough money is raised for several students to complete undergraduate studies.

“The Abu Bakr Scholarship Fund was set up to continue the work that Abu Bakr was so passionate about,” said his widow Kauser.