A Glasgow woman has been elected the head of Britain’s biggest Muslim organization.
Zara Mohammed was voted in yesterday as the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), making her the group’s first female leader.
Zara, a master’s graduate in human rights law and a training and development consultant, was elected to Britain’s largest umbrella body of mosques, Islamic schools and Muslim associations.
Ms Mohammed is also the first Scottish secretary general of the MCB.
She won the majority of affiliate votes against Ajmal Masroor, an Imam, teacher and broadcaster who was also running for the post.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity and the trust that the delegates and the MCB have put in me to carry this role forward,” she said.
She said she hoped her election would inspire confidence in other young women.
“It is really important to engage young people, engage more women and diversify the organization and the work we are doing.”
As part of her manifesto, she pledged to help develop practical solutions to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said: “We want to challenge misinformation and we want to continue to promote the guidance, the clarity and reassure the community as part of the united and national effort.
“So definitely promoting the vaccine, encouraging our communities to follow the guidance and keep safe. So that will definitely be at the forefront of the work we are continuing doing.”
Islamaphobia is a “pervasive” issue she said wanted to continue to challenge, as well as looking at how ethnic minority communities have been impacted during the pandemic.
London mayor Sadiq Khan congratulated Ms Mohammed and said it was “terrific” to see her elected.
