THE Natural History Museum has appointed the first Muslim to its board of trustees, it was announced this week.
Harris Bokhari OBE is the first British-born Muslim trustee of a major British museum.
Bokhari, who is also a board member of the Princes’ Trust Mosaic Initiative and founder of the charities Patchwork Foundation and the Naz Legacy Foundation, expressed his delight at the announcement, but stressed that there could be more diversity in appointments across museum boards.
“These institutions play such an important role in helping our society connect with their heritage,” Bokhari said. “Having governance teams who reflect the realities of contemporary, diverse Britain will be an important step towards achieving that.”
Indian-origin professor Yadvinder Malhi has also been appointed on the board of trustees at the Natural History Museum.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden stressed the importance of encouraging people from all background to apply for public appointments.
“I was delighted to see Harris take up (this role),” he told Eastern Eye. “Our public bodies should represent society as a whole and the Government is determined to help make that happen”
Of the 98 trustees in the top six museums in the UK, only 10 are from a BAME background. This includes the newly-appointed Bokhari, Minouche Shafik (British Museum) and Farooq Chaudhry OBE (Tate).
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)