Pakistan-origin Humza Yousaf becomes Scotland's 1st Muslim leader

Humza Yousaf defeated his rivals to become the leader of the governing Scottish National Party. (SNP). The 37-year-old became the first Muslim leader of a significant British political party and the first Muslim leader of a Western European nation. Humza Yousaf stated in his victory speech that he will deliver Scotland’s independence.

In his victory speech, he was quoted by Reuters as saying, “The people of Scotland require independence now more than ever before, and we will be the generation to deliver it.” He also spoke about his grandparents, who arrived in Scotland from Pakistan in the 1960s scarcely speaking English, and said they would not have believed “in their wildest dreams” that their grandson would become the first minister of Scotland one day.

Yousaf stated, “We should all take pride in the fact that today we have sent a clear message that your race or religion is not a barrier to leading the country we all call home.”AFP reported that during Yousaf’s victory speech and tribute to his grandparents, his wife and mother were seen wiping away emotions.

Yousaf stated that as leader of Scotland, he will prioritize addressing the expense of living crisis, healing party divisions, and reviving the independence movement.

RACE FOR SCOTLAND’S NEW LEADER

Kate Forbes and Ash Regan were defeated by Humza Yousaf to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader. He will become the leader of the semi-autonomous government if he obtains a vote of confidence in the Scottish parliament.

The competition between the three candidates revealed profound policy divisions and a stalled independence campaign within the SNP. Disputes over how to accomplish a second independence referendum and how to implement social reforms such as transgender rights tore the party apart.

After winning the election, Yousaf stated that his personal experience as a member of an ethnic minority will motivate him to defend the rights of all minorities, including gay and transgender individuals.

After assuming the SNP’s leadership, Yousaf faces a difficult path. The fundamental policy of the party is to end Scotland’s three-hundred-year union with England. His predecessor resigned after the British government repeatedly blocked a path to a new independence referendum.

WHO IS HUMZA YOUSAF?

Yousef is the first-generation offspring of immigrants. His father was born in Pakistan, and his mother was born in Kenya to a Punjabi family. He attended a private school in Glasgow and attended Glasgow University to study politics.

Before becoming former Scottish prime minister Alex Salmond’s assistant, he worked in a call center. In 2011, he was elected to the Scottish Parliament as an additional representative for Glasgow. Yousaf took his oath in English and Urdu following his victory.

The following year, he was appointed to various positions in the Scottish administration, the most recent being health secretary.