Sayeeda Warsi

[[File:Baroness_Warsi_Official.jpg|thumb|165px|Warsi, in 2009.]]{{UKpolitics}}{{cquote|Warsi is risking setting off a reaction against this Conservative Party that she will regret.<br>She might actually be damaging them by trying to force religion on to people who quite clearly do not want it.|||Terry Sanderson, president of the UK [[National Secular Society]]<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/298236/20120214/baroness-warsi-secularism-faith-vatican.htm?utm_source=google&utm_medium=editorsfeed&utm_content=Baroness%20Warsi%20%27Risks%20Culture%20War%27%20over%20Militant%20Secularism&utm_campaign=Array Baroness Warsi 'Risks Culture War' over Militant Secularism]</ref>}}
'''Sayeeda Hussain Warsi, Baroness Warsi''' {{lived|1971}} is a [[British]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician. She is the first [[Muslim]] woman minister in the UK.  

==Political career==
Warsi is unelected, having stood for parliament in the 2005 general election but losing to her [[Labour Party]] opponent. She was subsequently created a [[House of Lords|life peer]] in 2007, becoming Baroness Warsi, and joining [[David Cameron]]'s Cabinet, although without any prior parliamentary experience.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28657616 Profile: Baroness Warsi]</ref> It was felt by some, including Warsi herself, that her appointment was, or at least appeared to be [[tokenism|tokenistic]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-19482839 Baroness Warsi: The rise and fall of a pioneer politician] BBC News, 4 September, 2012</ref><ref>[https://labourlist.org/2014/08/who-was-lady-warsi/?form=MG0AV3 Who was Lady Warsi?] LabourList, 11 August, 2014</ref><ref>[https://conservativehome.com/2014/08/05/the-warsi-problem-is-of-camerons-own-making/ The Warsi problem is of Cameron’s own making] conservativehome 5 August 2014</ref>

Warsi has complained that too many high ranking Tories have a privileged background.<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/03/tory-class-war-continues-sayeeda-warsi-calls-end-eton-mess Tory class war continues as Sayeeda Warsi calls for end to "Eton Mess"]</ref>

In August 2014, she resigned from her position as Foreign Office Minister over the UK government's pro-[[Israeli]] stance on the conflict in [[Gaza]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28656874 Baroness Warsi quits as Foreign Office minister over Gaza], BBC News, 5 August 2014.</ref>

Warsi resigned the Conservative Whip in the House of Lords in September 2024, stating: “''My decision is a reflection of how far right my [[Conservative_Party_(UK)|party]] has moved and the hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities''..."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/26/warsi-resigns-tory-whip-says-party-has-moved-too-far-to-the-right Warsi resigns Tory whip, saying party has moved too far to right] The Guardian, 26 September 2024</ref>

==U-turn==
In 2005 Warsi's campaign issued leaflets condemning [[Labour]] for allowing [[homosexuality]] to be "promoted" to school children, equalising the age of consent for homosexuals and [[heterosexual]]s, and for promoting [[gay marriage]]. She later did an about-face and began promoting civil partnerships herself.<ref>[http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/01/20/baroness-warsi-islamophobia-is-socially-acceptable/ Tory peer who said schools ‘promote homosexuality’ says Islamophobia is seen as socially acceptable]</ref>

==Religious headscratchers==
[[Non sequitur|Somehow]] Warsi claims that there is a "proper" (however defined) place for religion in public, that strengthened religious identities "ensure social harmony":<ref>[http://recoveringagnostic.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/baroness-warsis-rallying-cry-against-the-secularist-front-of-britannia/ Baroness Warsi’s rallying cry against the Secularist Front of Britannia]</ref>

{{quotebox|So today I want to make one simple argument: That in order to ensure faith has a proper space in the public sphere, in order to encourage social harmony, people need to feel stronger in their religious identities, more confident in their beliefs.   In practice, this means individuals not diluting their faith and nations not denying their religious heritage.}}

Is this reasonable?  Intolerance leads to, well, disharmony.
#Some religious heritages encourage tolerance (most branches of [[Buddhism]] for example) 
#Other religious heritages lead to intolerance (see [[Iran]], [[Saudi Arabia]], The [[Taliban]] among others).
[[Faith]] inevitably leads to the assumption, that whatever contradicts 'The Faith' is wrong and that can lead to intolerance. 

The [[British Humanist Association]] sees her remarks as, ''"outdated, unwarranted and divisive" ''and their chief executive Andrew Copson added, ''"In an increasingly non-religious and, at the same time, diverse society, we need policies that will emphasise what we have in common as citizens rather than what divides us"''. 
<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17021831 Militant secularisation threat to religion, says Warsi]</ref>

===Secularism and theocracy===
In February 2012, after [[secular]]ists objected to [[Papal visit to the United Kingdom, 2010|an official visit]] from [[Benedict XVI]],<ref>[[Priest molestation scandal|Why do you think]]?</ref> Warsi railed against a [[PIDOOMA|perceived]] "militant" secularism taking hold of society. Citing religion being "sidelined and downgraded in the public sphere" and religious symbols being removed from public view, she [[association fallacy|compared]] this "militant" secularisation to [[Godwin's Law|totalitarian regimes]].<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/nelson-jones/2012/02/warsi-faith-religion-militant Sayeeda Warsi, secularism and the Pope]</ref> By contrast the secularist Copenhagen Declaration on Religion in Public Life addresses issues like freedom of conscience and the right of all to participate in the [[democracy|democratic process]] which is hardly totalitarian. Proponents of religion in the public sphere do not accept proportionate time for groups like the [[National Secular Society]] to state the case against religion or for the [[British Humanist Association]] to explain alternative secular moral systems in the public sphere. Religion in public without the opposing view is more totalitarian than the secularist position. The National Secular Society fears the introduction of "[[theocratic]]" laws reducing freedom for secularists and the British Humanist Association is also uneasy because other politicians with faith agendas are prominent in the government.<ref>[http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2012/09/are-parliaments-theocrats-about-to-have-their-day Are parliament’s theocrats about to have their day?]</ref><ref>[http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/2012/09/baroness-warsi-becomes-minister-for.html Baroness Warsi becomes Minister for Faith and Communities]</ref>  Despite this different people saw her removal from the Cabinet as a demotion. Yet another view was that the appointment of a Muslim showed declining Christian influence in the UK.

Warsi fought to reduce secularism in the UK and [[Europe]] but she swam against a strong tide.<ref>[http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2012/02/baroness-warsi-and-her-gang-of-pious-politicos-are-out-of-step-with-the-nation Baroness Warsi and her gang of pious politicos are out of step with the nation]</ref> In late summer 2012 Warsi was appointed Minister of Faith. After Warsi's resignation the post was given to [[Evangelical Christianity|Evangelical Christian]], Eric Pickles who has also been accused of misrepresenting secularism.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/senior-minister-of-state-and-minister-for-faith-and-communities Minister of State for Faith and Communities]</ref><ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/07/eric-pickles-faith-minister-secularism_n_5657650.html Divisive Eric Pickles Should Not Be Faith Minister And Role Should Be Abolished, Say Secularists][http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stephen-evans/eric-pickles-faith-minister_b_5657557.html?1407409944&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067 Eric Pickles's Appointment as Faith Minister Should Give All Secularists Cause for Concern]</ref> As of 2025 the current Minister of Faith  is Labour peer Lord Wajid Khan.

===Christianity===
Warsi objected to the [[European Union|European constitution]] having no mention of [[God]] or [[Christianity]], arguing that Christianity has played a defining role in shaping European society.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9080441/We-stand-side-by-side-with-the-Pope-in-fighting-for-faith.html We stand side by side with the Pope in fighting for faith]</ref>  Warsi visited the [[Vatican]] in early 2012 and discussed with [[Pope Benedict XVI]] how she hoped Christianity can be brought back to a "central role in British public life."  She did all this despite a poll by Mori finding 74% of UK Christians think religion should not specially influence public policy.<ref>[http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2012/02/14/warsi-takes-battle-for-christianity-to-the-vatican Warsi takes battle for Christianity to the Vatican]</ref>

===Islam===
Warsi believes that [[Islamophobia]] appears to be socially acceptable in British society, and criticises [[Stereotype|stereotyping]] of [[Muslim]]s as either [[extremism|extremists]] or "[[moderate]]" Muslims.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/20/lady-warsi-islamophobia-muslims-prejudice Lady Warsi claims Islamophobia is now socially acceptable in Britain]</ref> Warsi's speech was not welcomed in the Tory Party and may have led to her demotion from the Cabinet.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/sep/05/bradford-response-cabinet-reshuffle Baroness Warsi's departure from the cabinet comes as no surprise to Bradford]</ref> Warsi’s efforts to prevent people distinguishing between moderate and extreme Muslims may further be counter-productive as many UK people do not know which Muslim is moderate and which is extremist.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/jan/20/lady-warsi-speech-anti-muslim-prejudice Warsi's speech is welcome, though her reluctance to divide Muslims into moderate and extremist camps is misguided]</ref>  

Warsi has complained Muslims do not speak out enough against radical Islam<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2014/aug/06/sayeeda-warsi-resignation-brave-wise Sayeeda Warsi's resignation was brave, but was it wise?]</ref> but has also supported [[Hamas]].<ref>[http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/08/baroness-warsi-was-over-promoted-incapable-and-incompetent/ Baroness Warsi was over-promoted, incapable and incompetent]</ref>{{dead}}

==Marriage==
Warsi married her second husband, Iftikhar Azam, in 2009. Shortly after the wedding, claims emerged from the family of Azam's ex-wife, Massarat Bi, that she (who does not understand English) was unaware that Azam was [[Divorce|divorcing]] her until after the divorce had been finalised.  These claims were publicised by that [[Sarcasm|bastion of fair reporting about Muslims in Great Britain]], the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', along with accounts of [[Domestic violence|violent behaviour]] towards Bi and the ''Mail'' report by members of Bi's family during the ''Mail'''s investigation.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1213111/Did-wife-know-divorced-husband-wed-Tory-Muslim.html Read it if you wish.]</ref>
==External links==
*[https://sayeedawarsi.com Official website]
==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT: Warsi, Sayeeda}}
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:British politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of Parliament (UK)]]
[[Category:Muslims]]

Categories: British people, British politicians, Living people, Members of Parliament (UK), Muslims