Zara Mohammed will continue her position as the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain for another two years following her re-election by the organisation’s affiliates.

Mohammed Kozbar, a master’s graduate in charity management and chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, will be her deputy for the 2023-2025 term.

Britain’s largest democratic Muslim umbrella body also elected a new National Council during its annual general meeting over the weekend.

In 2021, Zara was appointed as the first female head of MCB, which has more than 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.

“It has been an honour to serve our communities over the past two years as Secretary General of this great national institution, and to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead for the next two hereafter,” said Zara Mohammed, who was unopposed during the elections.

“I thank our affiliates for engaging and upholding MCB’s internal democracy through the election process, and outgoing Office Bearers and National Council members for their exemplary service,” she added.

Serving British Muslim communities  

Mohammed Kozbar was elected Deputy Secretary General (DSG) after he won the majority of affiliate votes. Lamine Konate, an imam and acting Treasurer of the MCB, was also in the running for the post.

“I welcome DSG Mohammed Kozbar into post, and look forward to working alongside him, our incoming National Council (2023-2025) and Office Bearers to continue serving the MCB’s network of affiliates across the UK, and the wider British Muslim communities of which they are a part,” said Zara Mohammed.

Zara, who in 2016 became the first female head of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, outlined her pledges in a manifesto for the next two years before the election.  

In it, Zara said the MCB will continues to be a place to mobilise change for Muslims communities.

Her priorities over the next few years include cultivating future leaders and establishing a culture that empowers women, youth, and diverse communities to assume leadership positions.

Zara intends to push for policy changes to address critical issues facing British Muslims, including countering Islamophobia.

She also wants MCB to be a hub for sharing best practices and facilitating discussions among affiliates to help build successful Muslim organisations.