Scotland elects first Muslim leader, Humza Yousaf, a descendant of Pakistani immigrants
Humza Yousaf, dressed in a black sherwani, was sworn in as Scotland’s new leader on March 29 in a ceremony blending formal tradition with his Pakistani heritage, at Scotland’s highest court, the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Yousaf takes over from Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first female leader and the country’s longest-serving who stepped down after over eight years.
Who is new first minister Humza Yousaf?
Humza Yousaf, a Muslim and descendant of Pakistani immigrants, is the first person of color and the first Muslim to fill the top job. At age 37, Yousaf is the youngest first minister of Scotland.
“My grandparents made the trip from Punjab to Scotland over 60 years ago. As immigrants to this country who knew barely a word of English, they could not have imagined in their wildest dreams that their grandson would one day be on the cusp of being the next first minister,” Yousaf said in an acceptance speech after securing a majority of votes to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP).
Success of the South Asia diaspora: The news of Yousaf’s victory dominated headlines in Pakistan, with messages brimming on social media about the historic moment.
The leader of Scotland’s main opposition, Anas Sarwar, is also the child of Pakistani immigrants.
The appointment of the new leader of Scotland comes after the UK got its first Hindu leader in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last October. Britain’s capital city is headed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the son of Pakistani immigrants. Just under 10% of the United Kingdom’s population is of South Asian descent, according to government statistics.
From Punjab to Pollok, people from across the world & here at home have been offering me their good wishes, grateful for all the kind msgs I have received.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) March 27, 2023
Can I thank Kate & Ash in particular for their kind words of support. We're united as a team who will deliver for Scotland.
Western Europe’s first Muslim head of govt
SNP leaders took pride in Scotland becoming the first democracy in western Europe to appoint a Muslim as the leader. “I think what it says about the UK is that we are a welcoming group of nations, and Scotland in particular,” Stephen Flynn, the party’s leader in the UK parliament, said.
Yousaf’s victory is not just historic for Scotland alone. He is the first Muslim politician elected to be a national leader in a Western democracy, according to Sunder Katwala, the director of the British Future think tank.
Prayer on first night at Bute House: Scotland’s newly elected First Minister Humza Yousaf shared a photo leading his family in prayer on his first night at the official residence, Bute House.
“A special moment leading my family in prayer in Bute House as is customary after breaking fast together,” he said on Twitter, sharing photos from the prayer and with family members.
Born in Glasgow in 1985, Yousaf was one of two ethnic minority pupils to attend his elementary school. Yousaf joined the SNP while he was a student at the University of Glasgow and rose through the ranks of the party, becoming a member of parliament in 2011 – the first Muslim and non-White cabinet minister to serve in the Scottish Government.
In 2016, Yousaf caught global attention when he delivered a parliamentary oath in the Urdu language while wearing a Scottish traditional dress.
Calls for independence in Scotland
Yousaf had promised to be “the generation that delivers independence for Scotland”, and pledged to “kickstart” a civic movement that would “ensure our drive for independence is in fifth gear”.
However, congratulating Yousaf on his election, the UK government’s Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he hopes the new SNP leader “will put his obsession with independence aside”.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak echoed the sentiment, telling a watchdog panel of MPs in London: “what people in Scotland want is to see that the governments are working together to deliver for them”.