by Umma Miah (MWN Hub Team)

Casting aside the recent rise of negativity surrounding the burqa and public safety debate, there are other news to raise our spirits – the recent appointment of four Muslim women in mayoral roles. Here we highlight who they are, their professional background and significance of their position against the rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric.

 

Sherin Akthar – Lord Mayor of Chester

 

Chester has one of the longest-running Lord Mayor office dating back to 1238. The recent appointment of Sherin Akhtar as the 808th Lord Mayor of Chester marks a historic milestone: she is their first British Bangladeshi Muslim woman.

 

Originally from Oldham, she had moved with her young family to Chester drawn to the leafy outdoorsy life. Her background in social work supporting vulnerable adults in the community has strongly shaped her commitment to public service.

 

Representing Upton ward and being a Chester Charter Trustee, Councillor Akhtar is keen on preserving Chester’s historic traditions together with celebrating the city’s increasing diversity. As part of Lord Mayor’s theme ‘Pride in Place’, she will be engaging with local organisations, communities, volunteer-run groups and schools to promote inclusivity. The charities chosen for the mayoral year are Chester Women’s Aid and Heath Youth Club. She has stated that she will be pushing the limits to raise funds for these charities.

 

Being the first Lord Mayor of Chester to wear the hijab, Councillor Akthar remarks on how this symbolises wider representation and women’s empowerment. In her opening Mayor’s speech said: “My appointment represents a powerful statement of inclusion and identity. I hope it sends a positive message to young women everywhere – that with dedication and belief in yourself, you can achieve great things.”[1]

 

 

Safiya Saeed - Lord Mayor of Sheffield

 

Safiya Saeed is Sheffield’s first Black Muslim woman Lord Mayor. Born in Somalia, she came to the UK in 1985. As a community activist has spent over 20 years empowering young people.  Being a single mother to five children she saw how limited funding and resources were affecting families in her community. In response, she founded Reach Up Youth in 2013, to provide a space for young people, particularly from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds to access opportunities for mentoring, sports and volunteering.

 

Driven by her commitment to community work, Councillor Saeed’s vision for Sheffield is to turn the city into a thriving hub building partnerships and support between investors, entrepreneurs, charities and residents. In her acceptance speech she said: “I am incredibly proud to step into the role of Lord Mayor, making history as the first Black woman, wearing hijab to hold this position in Sheffield. I want every voice, no matter how quiet, to feel heard in the heart of this city.”

 

“I am incredibly proud to step into the role of Lord Mayor, making history as the first Black woman, wearing hijab to hold this position in Sheffield. I want every voice, no matter how quiet, to feel heard in the heart of this city,” said Councillor Saeed

Rukhsana Ismail – Mayor of Rotherham

 

Rukhsana Ismail is the 120th Mayor of Rotherham. She has devoted her career to supporting vulnerable people, from working on the frontlines of domestic abuse services to leading a charity as Chief Executive in Nottinghamshire. Her passion for social equality and justice has led to her serving as a Magistrate, Vice Chair of Unison Sheffield and trustee of several local charities.

 

For Councillor Ismail who represents the Rotherham East, “Being Mayor of Rotherham is not just a role — it’s a platform to champion the people, communities, and causes that make our borough special. I want to inspire others, especially young women and girls, to believe in themselves and know that anything is possible. If I can achieve this, so can they.”[2]

 

Since her appointment as Mayor, false information was circulated on social media claiming that she is a refugee from Pakistan who was granted UK citizenship and that her opening speech was entirely in Urdu. While those false claims have been disputed as webcast from the council meeting shows it nonetheless highlights the hostility Muslim women in public life tend to face.

  

“Being Mayor of Rotherham is not just a role — it’s a platform to champion the people, communities, and causes that make our borough special. I want to inspire others, especially young women and girls, to believe in themselves and know that anything is possible. If I can achieve this, so can they,” said Councillor Ismail 

Munazza Faiz - Mayor of Havant

Passionate about raising living standards, Munazza Faiz has advocated for the needs of those from disadvantaged backgrounds and health workers. Given her community activism she was inaugurated as the new Mayor of Havant borough at the Annual Council Meeting in May 2025.

 

Representing Leigh Park Central and West Leigh, she is the borough’s first female Muslim Mayor. This is a remarkable achievement as the Havant population is not ethnically diverse - only 1.7% of its residents identify as Asian. Her appointment signifies a shift towards representation of individuals from different backgrounds and faith.

 

Councillor Faiz said that she is honoured to accept the position of representing the borough and to serve the local community. While is considering a range of fundraising events, the chosen charities for mayoral year is Stop Domestic Abuse and Off the Record.

 

In an increasingly divisive political climate, the visibility of Muslim women in leadership roles is encouraging. Holding positions, including mayor serves to challenge the negative stereotypes that hang as yokes around the necks of Muslim women. Their presence also offers representation for communities who often are on the fringe of public discourse. Leaders like Saeed and Akthar who have made history are agents of change impressing that the political glass ceiling can be shattered.

 

*For more on inspiring leaders, read our previous blog that featured the Muslim women mayors elected in 2022-2023.