Brighton and Hove has its first South Asian Muslim mayor after councillors unanimously elected Mohammed Asaduzzaman to the largely ceremonial role.
Traditionally, mayors take up the chains of office after many years of service on Brighton and Hove City Council – not least as they are required to chair meetings of the full council.
But the 63-year-old chef was only elected to the council in Hollingdean and Fiveways ward at the local elections last May.
Even so, the Labour leader of the council Bella Sankey said that he had dedicated many years to public service in Brighton and Hove before he was elected.
At the “annual council” meeting at Brighton Town Hall today (Thursday 16 May), Councillor Sankey described Councillor Asaduzzaman as a “well-known and well-loved” figure in the community.
She said: “Mohammed is warm, kind, funny and ambitious for our city. He is also part of a duo. And my nomination would not be complete without mentioning his consort and beloved wife, Most Ara. I know she will be a credit to him and our city in the year ahead.
“Brighton and Hove can look forward to a mayor whose compassion has already left a mark on the city’s social, cultural, economic and political landscape and whose role will inspire our residents to work better together and to transform our city for the better.”
She said that his good works included providing 500 free meals to essential service providers during the covid-19 pandemic.
He also pushed for vaccinations for those with uncertain immigration status, acted as an interpreter for those in legal need and gave support to victims of crime.
Green councillor Raphael Hill said: “I would encourage the mayor to be mindful of the politically neutral nature of his role as the mayor is separate from the administration.
“I’m sure he’ll work hard to ensure that all councillors can make their voices heard in debate.”
Councillor Asaduzzaman donned the robes of office in the chamber of the Georgian town hall, joined by his wife Most Jasmin Ara.
Labour councillor Amanda Grimshaw was elected as deputy mayor and is expected to take over the mayoralty in a year’s time.
In Brighton and Hove, the mayor has a largely ceremonial role as first citizen, welcoming visitors and representing the city on the regional, national and international stage. The mayor also chairs meetings of the full council.
Each year, the mayor traditionally supports a number of local charities. Councillor Asaduzzaman has chosen BHT Sussex, the Sussex Cricket Foundation, Chomp Brighton, My University Hospitals Sussex, Brighton Students’ Union and the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust.
I appreciate the role of Mayor is largely ceremonial but I thought it usually goes to a long serving councillor as opposed to someone relatively new on the scene. An interesting choice.
Thats assuming any of the old timers wanted it…
And at times the ‘usually’ doesn’t apply.
There are no hard and fast rules on how long a councillor should have held office before being considered for the mayorality.
The only legal requirement is that they are a councillor.
And some councillors simply don’t want to me Mayor. It takes up an incredible amount of time on topof the existing time committment for being a councillor.
The current mayor has been sending an out-of-office message saying she won’t be doing any casework. FYI …
Most of our current councillors were elected less than two years ago and only a small number could be classed as long-serving. It’s also rare, for example, for someone to serve a second term as mayor although it has occasionally happened. And not everyone wants to be mayor. Councillor Asaduzzaman has already served as deputy mayor for a year and was the choice of our elected councillors, with support from across the political spectrum.
I always thought being made Mayor was supposed to be a reward for long service.
Why are they giving it to someone who has only been a Councillor for a year?
It makes a mockery of this honour, surely?
A reward for long serrvice is a clock!
Being Mayor for a year is a hard slog and not really any reward at all.
An honour yes but as a reward less so.
A very good choice recognising this gentleman’s work for and popularity within our city.
I don’t think that his character or charitable work is in dispute. It is the criteria for which a mayoral appointment is made. Usually the role goes to someone who has served for a long time in local politics.
Politics could also be interpreted as the unofficial aspects, such as community service, not just the elected roles, right?
Not really Benjamin. Politics in this sense means being an elected councillor. Being a decent person who provides a service to the community is generally apolitical.
Good luck to him, but he looks so unprepared and incapable for the role. I hope he gets the support he needs because people will be unkind to him and dig into his past. I hope he hasn’t made any false claims about his qualifications.
I used to work with this man, only talks to men, his brother is lovely. Think Brighton and Hove should look into things when appointing a mayor
Best of luck😆
A couple of questions.
1. Given Muslim hatred of homosexuality, how will the new Mayor deal with Pride?
2. As the role of Mayor is non political, why is our new chap wearing a Palestinian colours hat?
Could you ask him please Frank?
There are 4 colours in the Palenstinian flag.
Red anf Green is more the flag of Portugal.
he’s also worn this particular head covering for quite some time.
Not sure what you mean by ‘deal with Pride’? There’s nothign for him to deal with.
I believe he will at least be conflicted as an adherent of the faith.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: If a man who is not married is seized committing sodomy, he will be stoned to death.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood – Book 38 Hadith 4448
So we can’t have a Christian mayor either based on their belief in the book of levidicus?
exactly – the most liberal of cities appointing someone whose religion is totally misogynist and racist seems to be a tad contradictory – who voted for this appointment?
No contradictions there 😅
Perfect for the unthinking times we live in
1. As with other religions (including Christianity) there is a broad spread of views across Islam, and not all Muslims have a problem with gay people. Some people of no faith do have a problem with gay people, so the argument just does not stand up, unless you see all Muslims as being the same.
2. Those are not the colours of the Palestinian flag. Check your facts before posting!
Elizabeth. Over half of *British* Muslims think homosexuality should be criminalised.. so called ‘moderate’ Muslims. Worldwide, there are hundreds of millions of Muslims that support the killing of homosexuals, apostates and adulterers. Let’s hope he uses his platform to educate the Muslim community.
Elizabeth. Over half of British Muslims think homosexuality should be criminalised.
Source –
Google ‘Over half of British Muslims think homosexuality should be criminalised’.
Apart from that, there are hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide that support the execution of HS, apostates and adulterers.
Source-
Pew Research .org ‘Muslim beliefs about Sharia’. Here you will find the stats. The % of the populations of Islamic countries that support the various ‘punishments’. Eg, Approximately 89% of Pakistanis advocate for Sharia as the governing law, with 89% of that 89% expressing support for capital punishment in cases of adultery. With a population estimated at around 250 million, this translates to almost 200 million in Pakistan alone.
Let’s hope this man uses his platform to educate.
Nonsense. You are free to have your beliefs, likes, dislikes. It just should not get in the way of your duties. Do some research and you will see that Hadith is a result of politics and factions from 8th century.
How he wants to inspire our residents to work better together and to transform our city for the better? 🤔 I never heard about him 😕. Who voted him?
Hard work? Why are they giving it to someone who has only been a Councillor for a year?
How he will deal with homosexuality in Brighton and Hove?
… 500 free meals is hardly anything these days …
I am sure he isn’t a bad person, but I don’t feel like he will represent me…
‘Deal with homosexuality’ It’s seems that you have a bigger problem with Islam and homosexuality than your assumption of him having a problem.
2023: May 5, elected to the council. 20 days later he’s a deputy mayor and now he’s the mayor. Why so quickly appointed to these positions??
It seems that the White man is consumed with self hate, and it’s going to pull us all under with him.
absolute disaster for Brighton, what were you thinking! Muslims and their faith/beliefs always come first – these people hate western society – they cannot stand nonbelievers.
Faith religion and nationality is what divides us. We are one, we do not need mythical beliefs to exist and be a good human being.
shocking, will only get much much worse
I’d say you have a bigger problem. For a start, you don’t know what you’re on about. Secondly, your bigotry is only matched by the bigotry you assume other faiths have. Thirdly, you’re wrong.
You are the problem here, not him. YOU.
Will he talk to women? Or maybe just Raphael? Will he attend Pride? And to think Dawn Barnett wasnt allowed to be mayor. What a crock!
What do you mean ‘will he talk to women’? He already does. Will he attend Pride? He already has.
It’s you that is the crock here. A racist one at that. Brighton has had enough of your archaic, disgusting, racist attitudes. The place will be so much better when you leave.
Just because someone is a person of faith does not mean he or she is bigoted, or shares the prejudices of the worst representatives of that faith. Just because someone has immigrated from another country where injustices towards women and homosexuals take place, does not mean the person shares those views. It is fine to question our representatives about what they believe and think about the world, but not to insult them or assume they are at fault.
The problem with Muslims is that most don’t even know about their religion. Their knowledge is based on what was told to them, rarely do they open the Quran to understand with an open mind. They should understand the Quran versus with the context, not pull a line out with literally translation which will be wrong, it’s like Shakespeare, it’s not simple. Also the Hadith (saying of the prophet Mohammed) were written 200+ years after his death, how authentic is that going to be? How will words change over generations? Hadith should not even be followed by Muslim. Yes, I am a Muslim, I did not receive “training” from scholars, I “educated” myself.