Tehmina Kazi

Tehmina Kazi has been the Director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD) since May 2009. The non-profit organisation aims to raise awareness of the benefits of secular democracy and to promote a shared vision of citizenship.

Background

Kazi studied Law at London School of Economics from 2002-2005. She worked as a voluntary research assistant at Doctors for Human Rights between September 2004 and December 2005, before undertaking paralegal work at Thompsons Solicitors for a period of 7 months in 2006. Between December 2007 and April 2009 Kazi worked as a Project Officer at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, where she researched human rights issues as part of an inquiry into the Human Rights Act and its impact upon public service delivery. During this role she co-organised the Muslim Women Power List; an awards ceremony acknowledging the work of the most powerful Muslim women.

In January 2011, Kazi was appointed as executive producer of Hidden Heart, a documentary film about British Muslims who marry outside of their racial and religious communities. During the same year she became a trustee of the Hope not Hate Charitable Trust, which seeks to challenge politics of hate and extremism within local communities. In this position she has reportedly steered the organisation's policies, advised upon building a socially cohesive society and ensured compliance with governance procedures.

As of 2012, Kazi has been an advisory board member of the Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks Project, contributing to media coverage on anti-Muslim attacks in the UK and assisting with policy and funding issues. In 2012 she also became a freelance consultant for the Faith and Free Speech in Schools project, which aims to equip young people with the skills to criticise, defend and understand matters of free speech and faith.

In January 2014, Kazi worked alongside Professor Ted Cantle, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Rabbi Jonathan Romain and Alex Cunningham to judge a shortlist of the UK’s most inclusive primary and secondary schools. She would also undertake the Eric Lane Fellowship at the University of Cambridge in the same month, where she wrote two articles and an academic journal submission. This position ended in March 2014.

Kazi regularly contributes to debates on civil liberties and foreign policy, and her articles have featured in media outlets such as the Guardian and the Huffington Post.

Affiliations, Awards, Talks, Resources

Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill

In January 2012, Kazi advised Baroness Cox on her Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill. The Bill aimed to make it an offence for anyone to claim that Sharia courts have legal jurisdiction over family or criminal law in Britain. Kazi was quoted as saying that British Muslim women “don’t have any legal power and are completely informal so very hard to regulate and they rule on things such as divorce in Muslim communities. We want to educate women so they know what their rights are.” The Bill was opposed by some parts of the Muslim community, but was nonetheless supported by Kazi due to her belief that it would encourage greater equality for Muslim women unaware of alternatives to Sharia law. Baroness Cox had previously confirmed that Kazi was "prepared to speak out in public and support my Bill” in a talk at David Horowitz’s Restoration Weekend in Florida in November 2011. Kazi further contributed to a booklet seeking to provide evidence in support of Cox’s Bill. Additional contributors included Inspire and Sharia Watch founder and unsuccessful UKIP candidate Anne Marie Waters.

Awards

• Royal Society of Arts (2014): Centenary Young Fellow.
• National Secular Society (2013): Secularist of the Year - finalist.
• International Imam Hussain Council (2012): Outstanding Achievement Award – winner.
• Cosmopolitan Magazine (2011): Ultimate Women of the Year Awards (Campaigner Category) – finalist.
• BBC 100 Women (2014).
• BBC 100 Women (2013).

Conference talks

Kazi delivered a talk aimed at overturning myths surrounding the Government's Preventing Violent Extremism agenda on 20 July 2016 at Conway Hall in London.