5 July 2024: A diplomat, renowned author, senior police auditor, and the founder of an award-winning employment equality NGO are among 21 Muslims (1 KCMG, 2 CBEs, 6 OBEs, 10 MBEs, and 2 BEMs) celebrating recognition in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, writes Harun Nasrullah on muslimnews.co.uk.
The highest accolade awarded to a Muslim this year goes to Foreign Minister of State and Diplomat Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, who is to be knighted for services to British Foreign Policy, Humanitarian Affairs and the Commonwealth, Faith and Integration, and Community and Families.
In recognising his achievements, the Foreign Office praised Lord Ahmad as a “distinguished, experienced, and widely respected British businessman, community leader, and life peer.”
In a statement on the X platform, Lord Ahmad, who also serves as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, said he is “deeply honoured and humbled to be awarded and made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.”
He is recognised for his contributions across various domains, most notably in foreign policy and development, as one of the longest-serving British Foreign Ministers, as well as for his contributions to faith and integration. His commitment to public service in the UK is exemplary, and he’s widely respected internationally, across communities and the political spectrum, having made a significant and lasting impact during his continuous ministerial tenure over the last 12 years.
Author Monica Ali, known for her insightful explorations of identity, culture, and migration in her novels, is to be honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her contributions to literature. Of Bangladeshi descent, Ali gained critical acclaim with her debut novel Brick Lane (2003), which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The novel intricately portrays the life of a Bangladeshi woman in London, navigating tradition, modernity, and personal growth.
Her literary repertoire includes Alentejo Blue (2006), a collection of interconnected stories set in Portugal, and In the Kitchen (2009), which follows the journey of a chef in a London hotel facing personal and professional challenges. Beyond novels, Ali has contributed essays and journalism to various publications, highlighting her versatility as a writer. Her work is celebrated for its vivid characterisation, evocative settings, and nuanced exploration of contemporary themes.
Monica told The Muslim News her recognition came as a “huge surprise, totally unexpected.” Adding, “It’s great for authors to be recognised because it’s a signal that literature matters, that reading is important, and that we need novels and novelists. Now, perhaps more than ever, when opinions and attitudes are so polarised, we can look to fiction to provide nuance and complexity and help us see the world from other angles, from other points of view.”
Saima Ashraf, a senior finance auditor with Merseyside Police, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to policing. Saima, who joined the force 12 years ago, has been a significant inspiration and role model, particularly through her work with visually impaired individuals. In 2021, she was named Employee of the Year following positive feedback from across Merseyside Police, highlighting her professionalism and can-do attitude.
Despite losing her sight as a child, she became the first registered blind Chartered Public Accountant in March 2013. Saima, who also chairs the Disability Support Network, started hosting her weekly current affairs show on a community radio station in 2020. Fayyaz Afzal, a trailblazing blind Asian judge, is one of the inspiring figures featured in her programme. In addition, she actively supports local charities that aid asylum seekers and refugees.
“These examples are just a fraction of the remarkable work Saima undertakes, making her highly deserving of this prestigious award,” said Chief Constable Serena Kennedy. Dedicating her recognition to her late sister, Misbah Ashraf, who worked with her as her PA before passing in 2022 after battling pancreatic cancer, Saima told The Muslim News, “I am extremely honoured and humbled to receive an MBE for my services to policing; when I heard, I was extremely overwhelmed to find out how well regarded I was on Merseyside.”
Another Muslim woman recognised for her inspirational work is Tabassum “Tab” Ahmad, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the employment equality NGO EmployAbility. She is being awarded an OBE for her services to inclusive access to employment for neurodivergent and disabled young people. EmployAbility is dedicated to ensuring that individuals with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions have equal opportunities in the job market, providing essential support and advocacy to break down barriers to employment.
Having spent the last 18 years of her career specialising in disability and employment, Tab is an unapologetic and passionate advocate for disability, equality, and inclusion. Tab has won the prestigious Asian Women of Achievement Award for her work and has led EmployAbility to win many other diversity awards. In 2020, she won the Genius of the Year Award for her innovation in supporting neurodiverse students. EmployAbility was the 2019 People’s Choice Disability Smart Award winner.
Tab was on the Department for Work and Pension’s sounding board for the government’s Disability Confident campaign and has also appeared on and been interviewed on BBC2’s Daily Politics, Working Lunch, BBC Radio, and on BBC2’s Employable Me series.
Before founding EmployAbility, Tab ran a search firm specialising in financial services and investment banking. She has more than 25 years of experience in recruitment and selection. She previously trained as a chartered accountant and has a degree in economics and accounting.
Dr Samina Khan, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach at Oxford University, is one of three Muslims honoured in the education sector. Reacting to her MBE, Samina told The Muslim News that the recognition affirms “the life-changing potential that access to quality education can bring, and how vital it is that educational opportunity is based on potential rather than background.”
Samina studied at King’s College, London, earned a PhD in organic chemistry from Loughborough, and completed postgraduate education at St Hilda’s College, Oxford.
Since 2014, she has overseen admissions strategy, policy, and advocacy at Oxford. She has increased state school student admissions to about 70% by developing programmes for underrepresented and disadvantaged students. Currently, she is reforming admission tests and moving interviews online. Samina also collaborates with policymakers and frequently engages with the media and at conferences. Before Oxford, she worked in education roles in various sectors, including teaching in Birmingham, working for the Department of Education, national qualification regulators, and as a policy adviser for Edexcel Pearson.
Ten per cent of the honourees in the King’s Birthday Honours are from ethnic minority backgrounds. This includes 4.6 per cent from Asian groups, 3 per cent from black groups, 1.6 per cent of mixed heritage, and 0.4 per cent from other backgrounds. Notably, 25 individuals of Hindu and Sikh faith were recognized, comprising 1 DBE, 2 CBEs, 6 OBEs, 13 MBEs, and 3 BEMs. Additionally, 16 Jewish recipients were honoured, with 3 Knighthoods, 2 CBEs, 7 MBEs, 3 OBEs, and 1 BEM.
