Zara Mohammed

Zara Mohammed (born c.1991)[1] is a Scottish faith leader currently serving as Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain since 2021. She is the first woman to lead the organisation in its history.[2]

Zara Mohammed
Born1991 (age 31–32)
Glasgow, Scotland
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Strathclyde
Known forSecretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain

Biography

Mohammed's grandparents immigrated to Britain from Multan, Pakistan.[3] She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and studied at the University of Strathclyde where she graduated with an LLB in Human Rights Law. In 2016, she became the first woman to lead the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS).[4]

Mohammed previously served as the Assistant Secretary General for the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), and was elected Secretary General of the organisation in 2021 after receiving the majority of affiliate votes over her competitor, Ajmal Masroor.[5] This was the first time a woman had held the position; Mohammed was additionally the youngest, as well as the first Scottish, person to serve in the role.[2][6][7]

On 19 February 2021, Mohammed met with the Paymaster General Penny Mordaunt,[8] despite the fact that the Government had cut ties with MCB since 2009, after one of its leaders allegedly supported violence against Israel.[9]

Woman's Hour controversy

On 4 February 2021, Mohammed appeared as a guest on the BBC Radio 4 programme Woman's Hour to discuss her election as secretary general. During the interview, presenter Emma Barnett repeatedly questioned, and interrupted, Mohammed on the number of female imams in the United Kingdom. Footage of the interview was uploaded to Woman's Hour's Twitter page, but was removed after subsequent backlash over Barnett's perceived hostility.[10]

Subsequently, an open letter was published criticising Barnett's line of questioning and tone during the interview.[11] Signatories included politicians Sayeeda Warsi and Diane Abbott, writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied and comedian Deborah Frances-White.[11] A BBC spokesperson said the corporation would reply "in due course".[12]

References and sources
  1. "First woman elected head of Muslim Council of Britain". The Nation Press. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  2. Sherwood, Harriet (31 January 2021). "Muslim Council of Britain elects Zara Mohammed as its first female leader". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. "First woman head of UK Muslim council targets stereotypes and COVID". Reuters. 1 February 2021.
  4. "Meet The Scottish Muslim Student Shaking Up Islamic Societies In Britain". BuzzFeed. 26 September 2016.
  5. "Zara Mohammed Elected Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain". Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). 31 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. Smith, Laura (7 February 2021). "Interview: Zara Mohammed on becoming Muslim Council's first female leader". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  7. Morrison, Hamish (1 February 2021). "Glasgow woman elected first female head of Muslim Council of Britain". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  8. Mohammed, Zara [@ZaraM01] (19 February 2021). "It was lovely meeting you @PennyMordaunt" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. Fisher, Lucy (21 February 2021). "Minister under fire for meeting with head of Muslim Council of Britain". The Telegraph.
  10. "BBC deletes interview clip of British Muslim community leader". Arab News. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  11. Mohdin, Aamna (17 February 2021). "BBC under fire over 'strikingly hostile' interview of Muslim Council of Britain head". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  12. "BBC Woman's Hour accused of 'hostile' interview with Muslim leader". BBC News. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
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