Sandwell Council appoints its first female Muslim mayor

Sandwell Council has appointed its first female Muslim mayor.

Councilor Syeda Khatun will serve as mayor for 2024-25 after a ceremony in Oldbury on Tuesday.

She was first elected in 1999, becoming the first Bangladeshi woman 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’s Honors for her services to community development in Sandwell.

“This is a great privilege and honor and my promise to everyone is that I will uphold this honor and make Sandwell proud,” Ms Khatun said at a 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 represent everyone in Sandwell.”

“I want to wish the leader, Councilor Kerrie Carmichael, her cabinet and all new and old councilors in the House well, regardless of their political persuasion,” she said.

“I would also like to thank the Mayor’s dedicated team for all the work they have done over the past year.”

Her daughter, Syeda Hasna, will serve as mayor.

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

Councilor 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 mayor.

Votes of thanks were also given to outgoing Mayoral Councilor Bill Gavan and Deputy Mayor Councilor Elaine Giles.