Who Is Arooj Shah? First Muslim Woman Council Leader In North England

Arooj Shah of the United Kingdom's Labour party became the first Muslim woman to take charge of a council in northern England. She was also announced as the new leader of Oldham, a town in England.

Shah after her appointment said, "Oldham should be a place that we're proud to call home, where we support one another, and where everyone can get on and live a good life."

She also said that she will be bringing a COVID-19 recovery strategy moving forward.

Here what we know of Arooj Shah:

• Shah belongs to Pakistani heritage and is a practising Muslim. She has lived in England's Glodwick ward all her life after her parents moved there in 1968.
• Her parents worked in the local textile industry.
• Shah became a councillor in 2012 and continued to rise above ranks after that.
• As a Chadderton South ward councillor, Arooj Shah has served as the deputy leader since 2018. She was also a member in a new cabinet created for COVID-19 recovery plan.
• This year, she was elected as the leader of the Labour group after the former leader Sean Fielding lost his seat.
• In the recent elections in the country, the Labour party lost four councillors but managed to hold control of the council.
• Shah's appointment will be confirmed as the new council leader on May 19 at the annual general meeting of the council.
• In 2016, she lost her seat as the council leader to a male candidate after representing her neighbourhood for four years. She believes that it was because she couldn't get the support of the male Asian community.
• She said that she wants Asian women to believe that they too can achieve things. "I'm such a strong feminist and I want Asian women, who watched me...in 2016 when I was ousted by predominantly Asian men, I want them to look at me and think 'we can do this too' and that's the most important thing."

Shah called it a historic moment and added, "I do feel proud of it but what I want residents to know is that I am of Pakistani heritage and I am of Muslim faith, but I am an Oldhamer first and foremost."