Muslim woman Shabana Mahmood becomes new UK Home Secretary

UK Home Secretary. Photo: Mahmoud's Facebook

On September 5, 2025, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, appointed Shabana Mahmood as the country's new Home Secretary, marking a historic moment — for the first time in the history of the United Kingdom, this position was held by a Muslim woman.

Mahmood does not hide her religious views and openly states their influence on her political activities. In an interview with The Times, she stated: "My faith is the core of who I am. It is the part of me that remains when everything else fades away. I would call it the central truth of who I am as a person."

In her office at the Ministry of Justice, she has placed photographs of the three holiest sites in Islam, a framed declaration of faith in Arabic from the Quran, and a large flag of the United Kingdom. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mahmood was described as a "devout Muslim" and she herself stated: "My faith is the centrepoint of my life and it drives me to public service."

Her religious beliefs spark debates in political circles. Mahmood voted against the euthanasia bill, citing her religious beliefs, which led to criticism from some politicians who accused her of "imposing religious views". 

In her new position, Mahmood will have to address issues of immigration, policing, and national security amid growing challenges, including asylum problems and illegal migration across the English Channel.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that for the first time in history, a mufti became the head of the Department for Education in Britain.

Read also