British Pakistani Muslim Woman Makes History

Ishtiaq Ahmed 

London: History is made as Cllr Nosheen Dad becomes the first woman of colour and the first Muslim woman Mayor of Kirklees. 

At the age of 34, Labour councillor Nosheen Dad was the deputy for the year 23/24, the youngest ever person to take on the role.

Dad was inaugurated into her civic role at a special Mayor making ceremony In Huddersfield on 22nd May. Her journey to civic role started when she was first elected to the Dewsbury South ward in 2015. 

When her appointment was announced in March 2024 , she remarked, “truly humbled and honoured” to become Mayor.

Before being elected to Kirklees Council, Ms Dad studied politics with media at the University of Huddersfield.

While there, she was elected as the first female Muslim president of the Students’ Union and was also voted on to the National Executive Council for the National Union of Students.

Dad, who lives in Dewsbury with her husband, Shiraz Khan, and their two children, said: “I’ve had a fantastic year as Deputy Mayor, meeting many fantastic people across Kirklees.

Refusing To Be Held Back

She went on to add “ I am truly humbled and honored to be the youngest and first female Asian Mayor of our great district.

“I hope to amplify the voices of everyone in Kirklees, to celebrate the work, community cohesion and the selflessness of people that sometimes goes unnoticed . I am “looking forward to meeting many individuals and groups that make Kirklees a great place to live, work and raise a family”.

The role of the Mayor of Kirklees is a ceremonial one which is appointed every year at the council’s Annual General Meeting.

It is a non-partisan role and the Mayor chairs meetings of the council to ensure it is a forum for debate and that members of the executive are held to account. 

The Mayor is considered the “first citizen” of Kirklees, taking precedence in the borough over everyone except members of the Royal Family and the Lord Lieutenant or their representative.

Dad’s husband Shiraz Khan would be her consort while the Conservative councillor Elizabeth Smaje will take up the role of Deputy Mayor for 2024-25.

Dad is a new breed of British Muslim women of Pakistani heritage that are making an indelible mark on British civic and political life.

Readers will recall that only recently Professor Adeeba Malik was appointed as the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire , the first Muslim woman of Pakistan origin ever to hold such a lofty office.