Thread by @RelMedCentre, Today, we're talking to @ZaraM01, the new Secretary General of the @MuslimCouncil, [...]

Today, we're talking to @ZaraM01, the new Secretary General of the @MuslimCouncil, and the first woman in the role

'Taking the step to run for Secretary General was definitely a big one... at no point was my gender or age really a question' - @ZaraM01

Change 'starts a very local level', 'I've always been very passionate about community work' says - @ZaraM01

'For me, faith has always been at the core of everything... this idea that we are here to serve the whole of humanity' - @ZaraM01

'I was heavily involved in meetings with Cabinet Ministers... I challenged things, like what about young people? social mobility?' - @ZaraM01

'We've had to challenge issues on Islamophobia' - says @ZaraM01 about her previous role as Head of Media for the Scottish Muslim Council

'Do you think you'll have a particular challenge with male led authority in MCB?' asks @ruth_peacock

'There are always going to be challenges as a woman in leadership - the role itself is a huge challenge - but shouldn't we be courageous in making a difference?' - @ZaraM01

'It's disappointing at best that the government hasn't been really openly engaging [with @MuslimCouncil]' - @ZaraM01

'It's a change of leadership so there will be a change of approach. For me, I value conversation and relationship building' says @ZaraM01

Manifesto:
- Continue Covid response - particularly focusing on mental health and issues around vaccines
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Tackling Islamophobia - 'the institutional nature of it - the inability to get a job because you wear a headscarf' for eg

@ZaraM01

'When you say diversity and inclusion, who are you talking about specifically? And how granular will your approach be?' asks @rosiedawson

'It's open right now' says @ZaraM01 but also mentions access to mosques

'People are feeling quite disheartened' says @ZaraM01 about the appointment of William Shawcross in his role into the review into the PREVENT strategy

'What are the differences between the experience of Muslims in England and in Scotland?' asks @ctrlamb

'We still have issues with racism. I would say that community integration has definitely been much better [in Scotland]. There's a real sense of partnership....I'm totally biased!' says @ZaraM01

'The great thing about this time is that faith is really keeping us going' - @ZaraM01

'What's great about my appointment is that it's challenged a lot of the stereotypes' - @ZaraM01

Islamophobia 'cuts across all different parts of society' - 'we shouldn't oversimplify the issue. It can be sinister in the way it permeates' - @ZaraM01

Islamophobia 'is not just a Muslim issue' says @ZaraM01

Azim Ahmed shares that it's heartening to see someone from Scotland taking the role, moving the focus outside of London - @AbdulAzim

'In terms of theology, there are forums [for those conversations] and that's not what we do as a representative body'

'We're not a theological body' says @ZaraM01

Laura Marks asks about the relationship between @MuslimCouncil and the Jewish community - 'is there anything more specific you're doing on antisemitism?' @Laura_E_Marks

'Do you have any plans to engage with Humanist organisations?' asks @andrewcopson

He also asks 'In the same way that Jewish or even Sikh has become for some people a cultural identity or even a political identity...do you think that's something that's going to grow in the UK?

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