Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a Conservative peer in the House of Lords, has been named Britain’s most powerful Muslim woman, topping a list of 50 women who defy a prevailing stereotype that being a Muslim and a woman is barrier to success. Warsi, the shadow minister for community cohesion and social action, the first Muslim to join the Conservatives shadow cabinet, topped a list of 50 women compiled by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Trevor Phillips, the commission chair, said the Muslim Women Power List is meant to pay tribute to the achievements of successful Muslim women from the business, arts, media, public and voluntary sectors. The list, the first of its kind, also features BBC television news presenter Mishal Husain and Farmida Bi, a banking partner for law firm Norton Rose LLP. Warsi, 38, has been Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for Cities since 2005. At the 2005 election, Warsi became the first Muslim woman selected by the Tories to contest a parliamentary seat. A solicitor by profession, she has worked for the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service.
BRITAIN’S MOST POWERFUL MUSLIM WOMAN
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a Conservative peer in the House of Lords, has been named Britain’s most powerful Muslim woman, topping a list of 50 women who defy a prevailing stereotype that being a Muslim and a woman is barrier to success.
