Shabnam Nasimi (Persian: شبنم نسیمی) (born 16 February 1991) is an Afghan-born British social activist, commentator, and political figure. She was formerly policy advisor to Minister for Afghan Resettlement Victoria Atkins MP and Minister for Refugees Richard Harrington. A member of the Conservative Party, Nasimi was a candidate in the 2021 local elections.[1]
Shabnam Nasimi | |
|---|---|
 Nasimi in 2022 | |
| Born | 16 February 1991 (age 33) Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | University of Law |
| Political party | Conservative Party |
| Father | Nooralhaq Nasimi |
| Relatives | Rabia Nasimi (sister) |
| Website | shabnamnasimi |
Early life and education
editNasimi's family came to the UK from Afghanistan, after fleeing the Taliban regime in 1999. Her father Nooralhaq Nasimi had gained his PhD in Law in the former Soviet Union and her mother Mahboba completed her Masters in Jurisprudence; they prized education above all else. Her father, Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi founded and has been running the award-winning charity Afghanistan & Central Asian Association since 2001 to support the integration of refugee and migrant communities in the UK. Her father was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's 2022 New Year Honours for services to refugees.[2][3]
Nasimi went to St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School until 18, completing her GCSE and A-levels. She was educated at the Open University where she gained a degree in Law. She then completed an MSc in Global Governance and International Security at Birkbeck University.[4][5][6]
Career
editShabnam Nasimi was appointed Policy Advisor to the Minister of Afghan Resettlement (Victoria Atkins MP) in November 2021 and to the Minister for Refugees (Lord Harrington) in February 2022.[7] She worked to support PM Boris Johnsons plans dubbed 'Operation Warm Welcome' including the successful integration of the Afghans who stood side by side with the UK in conflict, their families and those at highest risk who have been evacuated.
In 2019, Nasimi founded Conservative Friends of Afghanistan.[8]
She has advised FCDO, the EU Special Envoy Afghanistan and other private companies, government agencies and NGOs on Afghanistan - and is an ardent campaigner for women's rights, an Ambassador for the 50:50 Parliament campaign.[9]
She has written for The Times,[10][11] Prospect magazine, the websites Quillette and Free Market Conservatives[12] and the blog ConservativeHome.[13][14] She has been accused of repeatedly plagiarizing journalists in her written work.[15] Nasimi has appeared as a political commentator on Newsnight, BBC News, ITV News, Channel 4[16] and Channel 5 News, as well as other international media[17] to provide commentary and analysis on British Politics, foreign policy, immigration and Social integration, ethnic minority communities in the UK and gender equality.[18]
Honours and awards
editIn International Women's Day 2022, Shabnam made the Women in Westminster: The 100 - Ones to Watch list.[19] [20] In 2019, Nasimi was nominated and shortlisted as one of the BBC's 100 Women during 2019.[21][22]
Political views and activity
editAt the May 2021 local elections, Nasimi contested the council seat of Cranford ward in Hounslow for the Conservative Party. Nasimi 1,191 votes, finishing in 2nd place out of the 5 candidates that stood.[1] Nasimi has spoken in favour of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union and has stated that she voted for Brexit.[23][24]
Nasimi endorsed Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election.[25]
References
edit- ^ a b "Hounslow Council by-elections - results".
- ^ "Nooralhaq NASIMI | Order of the British Empire | the Gazette".
- ^ Nasimi, Shabnam. "I am a young woman from an ethnic minority — and a Tory". The Times. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019.[self-published source]
- ^ Nasimi, Shabnam (6 March 2020). "Race is not the disadvantage it once was in the UK".
- ^ "Shabnam Nasimi".
- ^ ""I took my refugee status as an opportunity" – Shabnam's inspiring story | The Open University Law School". law-school.open.ac.uk.
- ^ https://twitter.com/luhc/status/1505514501663248391?s=20&t=yf9PI41IQQxhFO_re4EDIw
- ^ "Shabnam Nasimi: The young visionary you need to know leading Conservative Friends of Afghanistan". 12 September 2019.
- ^ https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/4185/documents/43162/default/
- ^ Nasimi, Shabnam. "Openness and control can rebuild confidence in immigration system". The Times.
- ^ Nasimi, Shabnam. "This election has destroyed the narrative linking Brexit and racism". The Times.
- ^ Shabnam Nasimi at Free Market Conservatives retrieved 20 March 2021
- ^ "Shabnam Nasimi: From refugee to Tory activist and campaigner. Why I am a Conservative". Conservative Home. 19 April 2019.
- ^ "Shabnam Nasimi: The Conservative Manifesto must include measures to grapple with online extremism". Conservative Home. 16 November 2019.
- ^ "A plagiarism success story? | Poppy Coburn". The Critic Magazine. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ "Debate: What does the suspending of parliament say about our democracy?". Channel 4 News. 29 August 2019.
- ^ "Will the US-Taliban agreement lead to real peace?". Will the US-Taliban agreement lead to real peace?.
- ^ Nasimi, Shabnam. "Shabnam Nasimi – 24plusnews.co.uk".
- ^ "Women in Westminster 2022". 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Women in Westminster 2022". 10 October 2022.
- ^ "برنامه ویژه صد زن تلویزیون فارسی بیبیسی: زنان و دنیای سیاست". 20 October 2019.
- ^ "صد زن". BBC News فارسی.
- ^ Hans, Gursimran (21 December 2019). "Brexit news: Tory activist explains how EU exit will let Britain rebuild global relations". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Hastings, Rob (4 September 2021). "British Afghans reveal their fears for relatives back home as they help newly arrived refugees". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ O'Callaghan, Laura (29 June 2019). "Muslim Tory activist denies claims Boris Johnson is Islamophobic as she backs him for PM". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2022.