Zara Mohammed has been re-elected unopposed as secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain for a further two years.
Mohammed Kozbar, a master’s graduate in charity management, will be her deputy for the 2023-2025 term.
In 2021, Zara became the first female leader of the MCB, a Muslim umbrella organisation which has more than 500 mosques and charitable and educational associations affiliated to it.
The training and development consultant from Glasgow described her re-election as an “honour”.
“It has been an honour to serve our communities over the past two years as secretary general of this great national institution, and to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead for the next two hereafter,” Zara, whose grandparents immigrated from Pakistan, said.
She thanked the MCB’s affiliates for upholding the internal democracy of the organisation and said she looked forward to working with Kozbar and the incoming national council.
After becoming the first woman to hold the position two years ago, she had hoped her election would inspire more women and young people to take on leadership roles.
Zara who studied human rights laws at the University of Strathclyde became the first woman to head the Federation of Student Islamic Societies in 2016.
Zara Mohammed re-elected to lead Muslim Council of Britain
Two years ago, she became the first woman to lead the Muslim umbrella organisation.
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
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)