Iqbal has a long track record in championing issues facing young black and Muslim people in the criminal justice system. He has worked with many organisations, like Switchback and The Clink restaurant in HMP Brixton, and for three years chaired Bounce Back, a social enterprise supporting offenders into paid employment. He also has many years’ experience in working with government and for eight years chaired the DWP’s Ethnic Minority Advisory Group, supporting the department in developing policy and strategy to address the disparities faced by ethnic minority groups in the labour market.