Kurd elected as Scotland’s first refugee councillor

"20 years ago I came to this country as a refugee. I would never have imagined being able to serve my city."

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2022/05/07 22:55

Roza Salih was elected as Scotland’s first refugee councillor (Photo: Roza Salih/Facebook).

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The 32-year-old refugee Roza Salih, originally from Sulaimani in the Kurdistan Region, was elected as the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) councillor for Greater Pollok in Glasglow on Friday, the first refugee counselor in Scottish history.

“Waking up this morning with so many congratulation messages has made my day. Thank you Scotland,” Salih tweeted on Saturday.

“I am so happy to be a councillor and that the Tories got hammered across Scotland, the future looks bright again,” she added.

I have incredible parents that have always supported me. Thank you mum and dad you are my best friends ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4smccVggBT
— Roza Salih (@RozaSalih) May 6, 2022

"It's a great feeling that I cannot express in words. I am so happy that the people of Glasgow have given me this opportunity and trusted in me to serve my city Glasgow that I love so much," Salih told Kurdistan 24 Sunday.

"I hope it will inspire Kurds everywhere to integrate and be involve in politics to improve peoples lives," she added. "No matter where they live."

“24hrs after #NicolsonSquare another proud moment for Scotland, as one of the ‘Glasgow Girls’ is elected & Scotland’s 1st refugee councillor,” Aamer Anwar, a lawyer tweeted.

The BBC reported that Salih studied at the University of Strathclyde, graduating in 2013 with an honors degree in law and politics, and later worked with the Scottish Refugee Council and the Education Strategy Commission to establish scholarships for asylum seekers.

She also co-founded Scottish Solidarity with Kurdistan, visiting Kurdish regions in Turkey as a human rights activist, the BBC report added. But she has especially campaigned for asylum rights.

According to media reports, she traveled from Kurdistan to Scotland when she was only twelve.

“I can’t believe it. 20 years ago I came to this country as a refugee. I would never have imagined being able to serve my city,” she told a journalist.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representative to the United States Bayan Sami Rahman congratulated her on Twitter.