Sadiq Khan the new Mayor of London, has shot to fame after becoming the first Muslim and British Asian man to become the Mayor of a Western city as big as London. He has also offered a new role model to young European Muslims, to those young Muslims who feel, rightly or wrongly that they are socially marginalised. Though he is not the only prominent Muslim in the UK, but the first Muslim Mayor of a major western city- the symbolism is important. At a time of rising Islamophobia, his arrival in City Hall, the son of a Pakistani bus driver and seamsteress, who grew up in the Council estate, is a celebration of multiculturalism and a defeat for radicalism.
He has rejected Donald Trump's offer to 'exempt' him from a ban on Muslims entering the United States and attacked the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's 'ignorant' view of Islam. He added, that Trump's view could risk alienating mainstraem Muslims around the world and play into the hands of extremists.
Besides these, he has taken up some key issues and have already implemented changes that he deems necessary.
Upcoming trip to India
Khan has declared his intentions to stand up for the London's Indian community and further strengthen the city's friendship with India. He called himself the 'most pro-business' London mayor ever, and expressed interest in leading a trade delegation to India, perhaps also meet Indian PM Narendra Modi in Delhi during this visit.
He has made a mark in the community's heart- after he recently put up a post on his facebook, expressing his fondness for the Swaminarayan temple in Neasden. Pictures of Khan visiting the temple days before being elected as the mayor have taken the internet by storm, where he is seen interacting with people from other faiths at the temple. He even holds out his hand for a priest to tie a string around his wrist, in keeping with a Hindu custom.
Bus Hopper Race
Last week the new Mayor of London used his official Twitter account to tweet support for a plan to pit bus users against each other in a race with the clock on public transport. It would see passengers taking advantage of Mr Khan’s new “Hopper” ticket, an innovation announced last week which will allow people to make two bus journeys (at £1.50) within a 60-minute window from September.
The race was first suggested by Hackney Labour councillor Jonathan McShane and has since caused a storm of interest online.
Khan weighed in with: “Love the idea of a #bushopperrace - a fun challenge and great way to explore London.”
People have already been concocting plans to game the system. Many have speculated online about what the furthest journey you could make on this new ticket is. Reddit user Harberton said the longest bus route in London is the X26, which runs from Croydon to Heathrow. Linking another journey to this route would be the best way to travel far on this ticket, according to Harberton.
Extra armed officers
Khan also announced an extra 400 armed officers to be deployed to tackle the terror threat next year, saying: “Nothing is more important than keeping Londoners safe.”
He observed a training exercise to test the response of armed police to a Paris-style firearms attack on the capital and met Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe who announced last year he would boost the number of firearms officers by 600 to meet the terror threat. The Mayor and Commissioner revealed that 400 of the 600 officers who had volunteered would complete their training by next April.
Unfair visa restrictions
The New Mayor has also vowed to challenge the present Conservative government's 'unfair visa restrictions' that often make it difficult for businesses to find the best skilled employees.
Questioning Niqabs
On the other hand, speaking about his own community, Khan has reportedly said that there is “a question to be asked” about why some Muslim women in the capital wear hijabs and niqabs. In an interview with the London Evening Standard, he reportedly contrasted the way Muslim women dressed when he was growing up in London in the 1970s and 80s with the way many women dressed today.
The Guardian reported that he said: “When I was younger you didn’t see people in hijabs and niqabs, not even in Pakistan when I visited my family. In London we got on. People dressed the same. What you see now are people born and raised here who are choosing to wear the jilbab [a loose gown] or niqab.
“There is a question to be asked about what is going on in those homes. What’s insidious is if people are starting to think it is appropriate to treat women differently or that it has been forced on them. What worries me is children being forced to adopt a lifestyle.”
Khan suggested Muslim women should think about whether to wear the niqab, which covers the face, when they interacted with providers of public services.
