Muslim Council’s female leader
THE first woman to head Britain’s biggest Muslim umbrella organisation said on Monday (1) she hoped to tackle Islamophobia, inspire Muslim women to go for leadership roles, and encourage ethnic minorities to get Covid vaccinations.
Zara Mohammed, 29, a charities consultant and law graduate from Glasgow, was elected head of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) after winning nearly two-thirds of the votes against her opponent, an imam.
“It’s humbling, it’s an honour, and it’s really overwhelming because I cannot believe how much attention it’s gotten,” Mohammed said following last Sunday’s (31) win.
“We’re overcoming stereotypes. I hope to inspire young women (to say) ‘you are fully capable, you can do it, don’t hold yourself back’.”
Mohammed said she aimed to build “a truly inclusive and diverse” organisation for Britain’s Muslims, who number over 3.3 million and account for 5.1 per cent of the population, according to official data.
Her priority will be working on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic which has disproportionately impacted ethnic minorities in Britain.
Mohammed said the MCB – encompassing over 500 organisations including mosques, charities, schools and professional networks – was working to challenge misinformation around the virus and vaccines.
Other priorities include addressing social and economic deprivation among Muslim communities, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic, she added.
Mohammed, whose grandparents came to Britain from Multan in Pakistan, said systemic and institutional racism and Islamophobia were factors.
“Many young Muslims struggle. Even though they’ve got their degree and are professionally qualified, they are not getting jobs because of their name and ethnicity – that’s still a big barrier.”
Mohammed said the biggest challenge to women was Islamophobia, adding that women who wore headscarves – like herself – often bore the brunt.
While many Muslim women have broken through in politics, entertainment and sport, she said too many bright and educated women were not getting the chances they deserved.
“Islamophobia is affecting their confidence and their opportunities in life, and the stereotyping doesn’t help,” she said. “Our voice and ability to be ourselves and attain the best we can is being hindered by these barriers.”
But Mohammed hoped her appointment would help dispel misconceptions. “It was the mosques that voted me in, it was the imams and scholars, the Muslim sector charities – a whole diversity of people. I think that’s a testament to where we are as a community, and where we’re heading.”
Prominent British Muslims, including lawyers, politicians and broadcasters, welcomed her election, with London mayor Sadiq Khan saying it was “terrific”.