First female Muslim mayor appointed by council

Councillor Syeda Khatun was first elected in 1999, becoming the first Bangladeshi woman to be elected in the Midlands region

Sandwell Council has appointed its first female Muslim mayor.

Syeda Khatun will serve as the mayor for the 2024-25 year following a ceremony in Oldbury on Tuesday.

Ms Khatun was first elected in 1999 becoming the first Bangladeshi woman to be elected in the Midlands region and the first Muslim woman to win a seat on Sandwell Council.

She was awarded an MBE in the 2004 New Year Honours for her services to community development in Sandwell.

“This is a great privilege and honour and my promise to all is that I will uphold this honour and make Sandwell proud," Ms Khatun told a full council meeting on Tuesday.

“I am Sandwell’s first female Muslim mayor which helps to reflect our diverse population in the borough and I feel very proud to be representing everyone in Sandwell."

Val Thacker and Steve Melia were appointed as deputy mayoress and mayor, while Syeda Hasna will become mayoress

“I want to wish every success to the leader, councillor Kerrie Carmichael, her cabinet and all councillors new and old across the chamber whatever their political allegiance," she said.

“I would also like to thank the outgoing mayoral team for all their hard work over the last year.”

Her daughter, Syeda Hasna, will serve as mayoress.

The mayor will be raising money for children’s charity Acorns, which offers palliative care and support to life-limited and life-threatened children, and the Yemeni Community Association’s Let’s Talk Hope project.

Councillor Steve Melia, who represents the Great Barr with Yew Tree ward, was appointed deputy mayor at the ceremony, and his sister, Val Thacker, will serve as deputy mayoress.

Votes of thanks were also passed to the outgoing mayor councillor Bill Gavan and deputy mayor councillor Elaine Giles.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.