A Kurd from the city of Sulaimani was elected as mayor of the London borough on Wednesday. Sarbaz Barznji is a British politician of Kurdish origin. He became the first Kurdish to serve as a Mayor of London’s boroughs.
Sarbaz Barznji recited his vows at the inauguration ceremony in both Kurdish and English languages, wearing traditional Kurdish attire.
He became the first Kurdish mayor of the southern borough of Lambeth. Before taking office, Sarbaz Barzanji represented the British Labor Party in the borough’s council.
After the inauguration ceremony, the Labour Party’s Lambeth branch congratulated Barznji on his new role, calling him “well-deserved”.
During the ceremony, Barznji’a children addressed the audience and council members.
On his appointment as Mayor, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s representation in the UK congratulated him and called him a pride for the Kurds.
Following the ceremony, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, a member of the British parliament said on his Twitter account that He’s excited to work with Sarbaz over the coming year and knows He[Sarbaz] will be an amazing champion for our whole community.
The newly elected mayor of Lambeth moved to The UK as a teenager. He graduated with a master’s degree in civil engineering structures from London’s City University.
Sarbar Barzanji is well-known and respected among Kurds in Britain. During the coronavirus pandemic, He helped people by providing food and Shelter.
Many British Kurds have held high positions in the UK before. For example, Nadim Zahawi, a Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan, has previously served as minister in several cabinets of the British Government for several years. And He was a Conservative MP for several years and eventually ran for the British prime minister.
According to statistics, there are about 200,000 Kurds in the UK, mainly in London and Leeds.
Most of the British Kurds came from Iraq during the 1980s and 1990s. A significant number of British Kurds come from Iran and Turkey as well.
