Saima Afzal MBE is an active Independent Human Rights campaigner as well as being the Director of her own Training and Research Consultancy, Saima Afzal Solutions. In 2016 she also founded S.A.S. RIGHTS a Community Interest Company to provide a platform for marginalised communities. Saima has held key roles such as National Police Authority lead for Equality and Human Rights and served as an Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner.
Saima is recognised as a national safeguarding/public protection expert adviser on the National Crime Agency database, and is often deployed in cases involving for example, Forced Marriages, Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation, Spiritual Abuse. Additionally, Saima is
co-authoring a book commissioned by Routledge on ‘Rape Culture’ within the context of exploring ‘believe-based’ and culturally driven interpretations.
She was recognised for her work when she received the MBE for her Services to Policing and Community Relations and an Honorary Fellowship in Oct 2013 by Blackburn College.
1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
Blackburn! Home is where my family and friends are, the friendships I cemented during my toughest years are with people who live in Blackburn. In them I find the support I need, especially when I come across challenges the line of work, I am involved in inevitably brings.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
Aside from professional achievements, my biggest is not accepting a forced marriage! Living alone with my son and raising him with the help of my family. I did this against a backlash from ‘community’ and institutions alike, I found they preferred to revere the views of ‘community leaders’ over mine.
3) What inspires you?
My biggest inspiration is my Mum, she taught me a humanitarian approach. Regardless of a person’s identity, their differences, and their background, I was encouraged to embrace humanitarianism, reject injustices and to question unacceptable behaviours. She has inspired, enabled, and facilitated my human rights approach and my successes to date.
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
Misogyny and intersections of it! This is an ongoing struggle! The regressive ‘community leader’ is my biggest obstacle, alongside the inability for some organisations, including the political, to fully understand the exclusionary tactics that exist for someone like me; a progressive, but non-conformist ‘brown’ woman who will question the ‘community-elites’.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Other than my mother, I don’t recall many role models who were publicly questioning the cultural and community-based inequalities between the sexes! Benazir Bhutto did however influence my decision to participate in the 1999 local elections in Blackburn. If it is okay in Pakistan, then why not for Blackburn?!
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
I often play a forensic expert witness role as part of an investigation team, analysing behaviours, assessing crimes, and safeguarding options. I examine the evidence and provide a culturally nuanced examination of the facts. Supporting an investigation to bring to justice the ‘perpetrators’ of any given crime is immensely satisfying.
7) And the worst?
The badmouthing, for example, being called an ‘immodest’ woman, a ‘bad’ Muslim, all hurt. Then on the other hand the far-right use my struggles as a flag to promote their own poisonous agendas. It is also demoralising when despite my qualifications, I have been used politically as an ‘equality’ tick-box.
8) What are your long-term goals?
Grow my community organisation, stop the inequity, remove the risk aversion that exists in statutory and political organisations, and their inability to define ‘problematic’ behaviours until a crisis is reached, i.e., a murder, rape! The fear of offending ‘communities’ whilst understandable, is not an acceptable reason to do nothing/avoid issues!
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
I would address the structure/culture of parliament, make it more inclusive and representative, not just visually but in giving progressive thinkers opportunities to contribute! Removing nepotism is key to this! Only then will we have politicians that will constructively work to remove inequity and poverty in all its forms.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Razia Sultana, the first woman Sultanate (ruler) of Delhi. I would chat about the barriers and conflicts she faced over her gender, background, what led to her removal, was she expected just to be a ‘figurehead’, to not assert her power, and utilise her position of privilege and influence?
