Bashir Ahmad (politician)

Bashir Ahmad (Urdu: بشیر احمد )
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow
In office 3 May 2007 – 6 February 2009
Succeeded by	Anne McLaughlin
Personal details
Born	12 February 1940(1940-02-12) Amritsar, British India
Died	6 February 2009(2009-02-06) (aged 68) Glasgow, Scotland
Political party	Scottish National Party

Bashir Ahmad (12 February 1940 – 6 February 2009) was a Scottish National Party politician. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament to represent the Glasgow region at the 2007 election, and was the first MSP to be elected from an Asian-Scots or Muslim background. Ahmed was a prominent and well respected figure in Parliament and in his community. He was revered for his character, "Bashir Ahmad was a man of extraordinary grace, kindness and decency" and his trail blazing active compassion for a better, more inclusive society.

Early life

Born in Amritsar, British India (pre-partition), he emigrated to Scotland in 1961 at the age of 21, settling in Moray Place, the famous Alexander Greek Thomson Terrace, Glasgow. Ahmad built his business empire and achieved success as an entrepreneur, a hotelier, and a restaurateur. He served five terms as President of the Pakistan Welfare Association.

Political career

Ahmad had long been active in the SNP. In 1995, he founded Asian Scots for Independence to attract more Asian-Scots to the party. He retired from business in 2003 to devote himself to politics. In that year's elections, he beat all odds and won this Labour safe seat and became elected councillor of Pollokshields East.

Upon his selection as second on the SNP's Glasgow list, Ahmad said: "The lack of any Asian or ethnic minority voice in the Scottish Parliament has been felt deeply in my community. But SNP members have righted that wrong. By doing so, they have proved that the SNP aspires to lead a Scottish Parliament that will represent all of Scotland - a truly national parliament. I firmly believe the SNP can now earn the trust of the Asian community throughout Scotland and that this will be a bond that endures for generations."

During the 2007 elections, Ahmad was elected to the Scottish Parliament on the Glasgow regional list. He thus became the first non-white and first Muslim MSP. He took his oath of office using both the Urdu and English language.

When Bashir launched Scots Asians for Independence at the SNP conference in 1995, he electrified the conference by saying "it isn't important where you come from, what matters is where we are going together as a nation" and with these words he received a standing ovation from a full auditorium.

Campaigns

Ahmad lead the bill on making forced marriages a criminal offence in Scotland. Ahmad received praise for his humanitarian campaign for Scottish hospitals to treat the most serious casualties of Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, particularly women and children with life-threatening burns or other wounds. He was a member of the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee, which decides which action should be taken on petitions submitted by individuals, groups or organisations.

He also lead and campaigned on:

• Racial Equality
• Carers
• Human Rights and Civil Liberties
• Older People and Ageing
• Palestine
• Breast Cancer
• Tibet's suppression
• Tartan Day.

Tributes and Praise

Flags outside of the Scottish Parliament flying at half-mast following the death of Bashir Ahmad MSP

First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond paid tribute to Bashir Ahmad following his death. Mr Salmond said: "Bashir was a man of enormous grace and respect, who brought the dignity of his faith to the very centre of our democratic process. Bashir made history by being the first Scots Asian MSP therefore giving the Scottish Parliament something indefinable. He made it representative of the whole country for the first time. He was the kindest, most decent human being it has ever been my pleasure to meet. And lastly, although he would have considered it to be first, he was the most patriotic of Scotsmen. He was a credit to both his faith and to his country. "

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "As a man, Bashir was a unique human being. He was loved and respected regardless of people's politics because he was a kind, decent and sincere man. His political legacy will be immense.

Bashir represented the best of Glasgow and the very best of Scotland. Bashir Ahmad was an exceptional person, and I will miss him deeply. He will be an enormous loss to parliament, to Glasgow, and to Scotland, as well as to his party. Bashir had a loving family, and countless numbers of friends from all walks of life, because he was such a warm and generous man."

Presiding Officer Scottish Parliament, Alex Fergusson: "That, I suspect, was the very essence of Bashir Ahmad: unassuming, forgiving, patient and kind. He seemed to me to be the very epitome of the gentle man, in every sense.

I also suspect that he harboured not one ounce of malice towards anyone else, politically or otherwise, and it was clear to me that that absence of malice was accompanied by modesty that was anything but false. Yet, that gentle, modest and unassuming man has blazed a trail in becoming the first Asian MSP to grace the benches of our Scottish Parliament. Those who will follow his lead will do so in the certain knowledge that their forerunner set the finest of examples—one that they would do well to emulate.

In saying goodbye to Bashir, Parliament is saying goodbye to a good friend who made a great mark on this place."

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie: "Bashir Ahmed was a real gentleman, much liked and respected across the political spectrum. To be the first Asian member of the Scottish Parliament was a real achievement." Although he was a committed member of the Scottish National Party and an unstinting champion of its cause, I feel that I can use the phrase "our first Asian MSP" because he had an influence in Parliament and beyond that transcended party-political boundaries. His presence made Parliament a better place, and the pride in his achievement was a collective pride that was shared across the parties.

Yes, he was a diligent, conscientious and effective MSP and his service on cross-party groups in the Parliament illustrated his wide span of interests in political and parliamentary activity, but it was the way in which he conducted that activity that attracted universal respect and affection. He was the embodiment of dignity and courtesy—gentle in demeanour and gracious in attitude. He was a man who, on meeting me on the Glasgow underground, was more concerned with carrying my suitcase than with getting himself to a formal dinner to meet the First Minister."

Labour leader Iain Gray: "The turnout at the funeral from Scotland's Muslim community and Scotland's political community is a measure of the esteem in which Bashir Ahmad was held. He was a kind and decent man.But he also changed the Scottish Parliament forever by becoming the first Asian and first Muslim MSP. He blazed a trail in which I am sure others will follow. He was well-liked and universally respected." Bashir's was perhaps the gentlest voice in this place [Scottish Parliament]—yet it will echo through the chamber for as long as men and women meet here to seek a better future for the country that Bashir clearly loved so much. That is a fine legacy for a good man."

Tavish Scott, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats: "Bashir was a decent and honourable gentleman and a good man to speak to." Bashir Ahmad was no identikit politician—he was not just another man in a dark suit. Perhaps the greater legacy, at a time when people can find politics to be too much of the same, is to appeal to people who are outside the orthodoxy of modern public life. That would be a worthwhile change indeed. I hope and desire that that genuine gentleman will be, in memory, a beacon of hope across politics and throughout the country. Scotland is a sadder place for his passing."

Margo MacDonald, Independent: "Bashir Ahmad's sheer humanity and love of life shone out of his face."

Conservative MSP Bill Aitken: "Bashir's passing leaves a gap in Scotland's public life that will not easily be filled".

Osama Saeedone of Scotland’s foremost peace activists and human rights campaigners: "Uncle Bashir, as we called him, was a great man. The best. People admired him because he had those characteristics we all need - exemplary manners, a great nature, warmth and hospitality. He was a history maker - Scotland’s first ethnic minority MSP, its first Muslim MSP."

Michael Russell MSP: "Bashir had the biggest, most generous, kindest heart I ever knew or will ever know. I don’t think I ever heard him say a malicious word about anyone, nor did I hear anyone say such things about him. No effort was too much trouble for him, no journey too difficult, no task to irksome. His was a religion of peace and he was the best advocate for Islam it is possible to imagine.

Islam also enjoins hospitality but for Bashir it was not just a duty it was a huge pleasure which he took very seriously. Many, many people in the SNP have had the experience of sitting in his house in Moray Place being fed like Kings. No wonder he was so well respected and revered in his community, in his city and in the political party he came to call his own."

Anne McLaughlin MSP: "If we all allow our natural compassion and humanity to be a factor in how we behave as politicians, perhaps that will be a fitting tribute to Bashir Ahmad."

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown: “It is evident from all I have spoken to that Bashir Ahmad was a man held in the highest regard."

Plaid Cymru AM Mohammad Asghar: “Bashir Ahmad was a great man who had a rare ability to connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds, with all kinds of views. I remember fondly our time campaigning together in Scotland, when we became good friends. He will be remembered in Scotland as a pioneer – the first Asian-Scottish member of the Scottish Parliament, and a man who worked tirelessly for community cohesion and to increase political awareness amongst ethnic minorities."

Christina McKelvie MSP: "Bashir was a very special man, a kind, decent, honest and generous man, always carrying a smile and a gentle word, always giving happiness to those he met. He gave a lift to all of us with his presence and he leaves a large gap with his absence."

Family life

Bashir's pride was for family, community and for country. He was fiercely proud of his family – his wife Naseem, their five daughters, two sons and 11 grandchildren. This family was Bashir's pride and joy. He was also proud of his faith and community.

Awards

Bashir Ahmad has been honoured with national awards recognising his contribution in Politics. Since his death, the Scottish Parliament have honoured Ahmad by offering the, 'Bashir Ahmad Memorial Scholorship' to experience political life for young aspiring politicians and the prominent Minority Ethnic Awards to celebrate his achievements have named a new award, 'The Bashir Ahmad Spirit of Scotland Award'.

See also

• Pollokshields