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| Britain |
| City's first Muslim Lord Mayor to be sworn in |
| 2006-05-23 |
| A councillor who has been at the centre of attempts to bring communities together in Leeds following the London bombings will today become the city's first Asian Lord Mayor. Mohammed Iqbal was prominent in his condemnation of the July 7 atrocities in the capital. Since it emerged three of the bombers either lived or worked in Leeds, he has been at the forefront of work in the city to come to terms with what happened. Mr Iqbal is a Labour councillor for the City and Hunslet ward and is due to be confirmed as Lord Mayor at a meeting of the full council this evening. He said: "I'm delighted. It's the greatest honour that has been bestowed on me. "It's a great opportunity to pay back a city that has welcomed me from the age of eight-and-a-half." Mr Iqbal is now a successful businessman but he said he came to Leeds in 1970 with little education and hardly able to speak English. He said he believed his elevation to Lord Mayor sends out a strong message about community integration. "We've had some difficult times over the past year, especially in the Beeston Hill area but its given us more courage and strength," he added. "This is a diverse city but it is a city full of opportunity. "I was not born here but this is my home, my city." Mr Iqbal is married with two children. His 22-year-old daughter Sayeka will be his Lady Mayoress. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 Might be to give her a way to be visible, active in the community, set an example for the other Muslim girls and young women. Also, his wife might not be comfortable in that role. Just one possibility. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-05-23 10:45 |
| #1 Why the daughter instead of the wife???? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-05-23 10:41 |