Shahana Hanif has made history by becoming the first Muslim woman to represent the NYC city council.
Hanif was a former City Council employee who won her election in the New York Brooklyn district (District 39). This covers Park Slope, Kensington, and parts of central Brooklyn. She is a Bangladeshi American and the first Muslim woman to be elected in the history of the City Council, although there are an estimated 769,000 Muslims in the vicinity.
New York City is the global beacon that attracts diverse communities; still, Shahana is the first South Asian of descent to become a member.
Hanif is among two South Asian candidates to win as well as make history. The other candidate is Shekar Krishnan, who also won a seat and represented Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in Queens. A third South Asian candidate, Felicia Singh, lost her seat to a Republican opponent in a closely watched Queens race.
In a statement, Shahana said she is “humbled and proud” to become the first Muslim woman on the Council. Hanif told NY Times, “Together we are building an anti-racist, feminist city. We deserve a city that protects its most vulnerable, a city with equitable education, a city invested in climate solutions that are local and driven by communities. In this city, our immigrant neighbors felt at home and heard, and safe. This work requires all of us to keep showing up even though the election is over.”
The New York city council is moving towards having more diverse and inclusive members, an apt reflection of its global community. Below are the improvements made this year:
- The Council will have five more Asian American members next year, including its first Korean American members.
- For the first time, more than two dozen women are positioned to take most of the Council’s seats.
- Members from the LGBT community have also been elected
- The Council will also have its first out gay black women as members
Shazia Hasan Becomes First Muslim Woman to Become the Vice President of Karachi Press Club. Read the full story here:
On Saturday, the Democrats Panel won the Karachi Press Club elections for 2020-21. Shazia Hasan has become the first Muslim woman to become the Vice President of Karachi Press Club for 2020-21 under the banner of the Democrats Panel with 764 votes against Saeed Jan Baloch, who secured 393 votes. However, the overall participation of women in the elections in terms of nominations was low.
Shazia Hasan Becomes First Muslim Woman to Become the Vice President of Karachi Press Club
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