LONDON: British government has appointed a Pakistani-origin women rightcampaigner Sara Khan as the new chief of a commission set up to root outextremism in the country.
Sara Khan, 37, will head the Commission for Countering Extremism, a bodythat had been proposed in the wake of the terrorist attack at an ArianaGrande concert at Manchester Arena in May last year which claimed 23 livesand injured hundreds.
Plans to set up the commission were announced by Prime Minister Theresa May.
Ms Khan said she was “honoured and humbled” by the appointment.
She added: “I recognise the scale of the challenge we face in confrontingextremism and I am deeply committed to this role.
“I will create a Commission that is forthright in challenging extremism inthe name of our shared values, fundamental freedoms and human rights.
“To those in our country who recognise the harm and threat extremismcontinues to pose in our society, I am eager to collaborate and engage.
“I extend my hand out to you to work with me in supporting the Commission’swork in building a Britain that defends our diverse country whiledemonstrating zero tolerance to those who promote hate and who seek todivide us.”
Ms Khan is co-founder of campaign organisation Inspire.
Her website describes her as “one of the UK’s leading Muslim female voiceson countering Islamist extremism and promoting human rights”.
Announcing the appointment, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “The Commissionfor Countering Extremism will form a crucial part of this Government’s workto stop the scourge of extremism in all its forms and Sara Khan is expertlyqualified to lead its important work.”