In Birmingham, new Lord Mayor takes oath under Islamic prayer
New Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry with his wife. Photo: Birmingham City Council website
In the British city of Birmingham, an official ceremony was held to inaugurate the new Lord Mayor, Pakistani-born Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Patriot One News reported.
During the ceremonial meeting in the council chamber, a Muslim chaplain offered a prayer for the wellbeing and success of the city’s new leader. The oath-taking ceremony itself, as well as the composition of those present in the hall, vividly reflected today’s demographic changes in Britain.
Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry will serve as Lord Mayor in 2026 – 2027. Birmingham’s population has changed significantly in recent decades due to active immigration. Today, a substantial share of the city’s residents are members of the Muslim community and people of South Asian origin. The inclusion of a religious rite during an official secular event became a sign of the new reality in the public life of modern Britain.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Pope noted Europeans’ concerns about Muslim migrants. This reflects the broader social sensitivity surrounding migration and religious identity – issues that increasingly go beyond domestic politics and influence the format of public events.
Read also
TRC releases UOC priest from Vilniansk after two days in detention
Archpriest Viacheslav Honcharenko was released from the Zaporizhzhia TRC following two days of efforts by his lawyers and family.
Karas urges to “de-occupy” UOC churches after Trump’s remarks on Zelensky
Radical activist Yevhen Karas said that following Trump’s call for Zelensky to step down, nothing stands in the way of seizing all UOC churches.
Lutsk cathedral holds memorial service for victims of Russian attack
A memorial service was held at the Cathedral of All Saints of Volyn for those killed in the Russian attack on October 14.
UOC’s Holy Protection Monastery in Kharkiv celebrates 300th anniversary
Metropolitan Onufriy of Kharkiv and Bohodukhiv led a Divine Liturgy and cross procession to mark the monastery’s 300th anniversary.
For EU integration, Zelensky approves LGBT rights protection strategy
Zelensky signed a decree approving a National Human Rights Strategy that identifies LGBTQI+ people as a group at heightened risk of rights violations.
Lavra lawyer details attack on him at court hearing
Lawyer Valerii Kushnir has filed a police complaint over threats and physical assault during a hearing at the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal.