Muslim Women: Past and Present

Recommend a Muslim Woman

Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

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Naveeda Ikram

“I am the first British female Muslim Lord Mayor. It shows the progress that has been made in this country […] I'm keen to see more participation and better confidence from all communities in the democratic process.”

– Naveeda Ikram in an interview with Daily Mail

Known For: First Muslim Woman to be a Lord Mayor in the UK
Country: United Kingdom

About

Naveeda Ikram, a Pakistani-born Briton, is the United Kingdom’s first lord mayor to be both Muslim and a woman.  Prior to her selection as lord mayor of Bradford in 2011, she served as the deputy lord mayor. Since 2004, she has served as a councilor for Bradford’s Little Horton ward. Naveeda was also the first Muslim woman to serve in that capacity.

As lord mayor, it is Naveeda’s role to serve as the public face of Bradford and to support the work of local charities. She chose Marie Curie Cancer Care, a cancer hospice in Bradford, and Bradnet, an organization that provides services to disabled individuals, as the two beneficiaries of her fundraising efforts.

Prior to becoming lord mayor, Naveeda was instrumental in founding Bradford Unites in Disaster, network of fundraising groups from throughout her region. The organization raised £30,000 (about $49,000) and collected six tons of supplies to send to Pakistanis affected by flooding in 2010.

In addition to serving on the Bradford Council’s Social Care Improvement Committee as well as her other roles in local government, Naveeda is an operations manager for Pakistan International Airlines and is a member of the Mayfield Community Association.  She is a mother of three and lives in Bradford with her husband, Saqib Salam Shah.

Sources

“Bradford appoints UK’s first woman Muslim Lord Mayor,” Daily Mail.

“Bradford Council Election Results,” Keighley News.

“Bradford gets Uk’s first Muslim woman lord mayor,” BBC.

“Cash, food and medicine on the way from Bradford Unites in Disaster,” Telegraph & Argus.

“Councillor Naveeda Ikram is country’s first Muslim woman mayor,” Telegraph & Argus.

Videos

Naveeda talks about her selection as lord mayor of Bradford

More Information

Naveeda Ikram’s Facebook page

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women chronologically by the Common Era century. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.