In 2003 Yosef co-founded the interfaith Saltley Gate Peace Group, a community peace initiative which was formed in response to the threat of war in Iraq as a part of the growing peace movement in Britain following 9/11, and he was Community & Interfaith Liaison Officer for the BirminghamStop the War Coalition during this period. He has been actively involved in community work which is related to the Lozells riots, the Alum Rock terror raids and campaigning against radical groups in the Midlands. In his early twenties, Yosef slept rough on the streets of London before being assisted by The Salvation Army. As a result, founded the Birmingham Food Drive in 2012, which regularly provides food, clothes and essential items to homeless people in the city, and is an active supporter of youth homelessness charity St Basils. He has also written for Pavement, the magazine for the rough sleepers in the UK. Between 2011 and 2017, Yosef co-organised the Birmingham Zombie Walk, an annual event which raised thousands of pounds for Birmingham Children's Hospital. and is part an ongoing commitment to the charity. In 2015, Yosef co-founded the Birmingham chapter of the national anti-racism organisation Stand Up To Racism.
Between 2005 and 2006, Yosef was senior journalist with The Asian Today and Desi Xpress, owned by Urban Media. In 2007, Yosef was appointed deputy editor of national entertainment magazine Ikonz. In 2008, he became a columnist for Fusian magazine. In July 2009, Yosef launched I Am Birmingham, an independent news website serving the West Midlands region, of which he is Editor-in-Chief. In August 2011, he was attacked by rioters while covering the 2011 England riots, during which he suffered a cut to the face and a swollen jaw. Yosef has regularly written for the BBC Online and worked closely with BBC Birmingham, creating content highlighting issues of socio-politics, diversity, culture, racism and religion. He has also written for the Birmingham Mail.
Controversies
In the December 2005 issue of the British Asian newspaper Desi Xpress, he made allegedly homophobic remarks about the UK's new civil partnership law for same-sex couples, including remarks such as "Hmm... gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so... They'll be shagging the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax though...." He later apologised and retracted his comments in the same newspaper, claiming his opinions were misinterpreted.
In January 2006, he subsequently wrote another article for the same newspaper on bigotry, in which he named Peter Tatchell, leader of OutRage!, Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, and Omar Bakri Mohammed, leader of Al-Muhajiroun, as the three top "hate filled bigots" in the United Kingdom. He also said that Tatchell "needs a good slap in the face" and that he and his "queer campaign army" should "pack their bent bags and head back to Australia." After complaints that he was homophobic and inciting violence, Yosef claimed that he had "misspoken" and apologised for any perceived homophobia, but maintained the view that Tatchell was a bigot saying that the reference to Australia was intended as a reference to the Cronulla riots in Sydney. The newspaper gave Tatchell a full-page right of reply.
Tribune magazine, allied to the left of the Labour Party, criticised Yosef and suggested his NUJ card should be withdrawn. He was further described as "bigoted" and "hate-driven" by Progress magazine, which is allied to the Blairite faction of the Labour Party and criticised by the Green Party, of which Tatchell is a member. Respect defended Yosef, citing his BBC articles supporting LGBT pride. The party stated it opposed "homophobia and anti-gay violence". In October 2009, Yosef pledged his formal support to Tatchell's General Election parliamentary candidacy for the Green Party of England and Wales, calling for the left to "embrace a mutual personal and political commitment towards equality and human rights".
Politics
Yosef is a former member of the Respect Party, campaigning for the party in Birmingham. He supported the Green Party of England and Wales in October 2009.
Honours
In October 2007, Yosef was included in Ikonz magazine's special Halloweenphoto shoot, in which he was transformed into a The Crow. He was featured alongside actors from television soap Hollyoaks and presenters from the BBC Asian Network. In March 2008, he was included in the top 50 most eligible bachelors list for Asian Woman magazine. In November 2017, he was nominated and shortlisted for the Inspirational Man accolade at the Birmingham Inspiration Awards. In September 2018, Yosef was nominated and shortlisted for the Excellence in Media accolade at The Birmingham Awards. In 2019, Yosef was nominated in the Positive Role Model category for The Excellence in Diversity Awards.
