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{{short description|British politician}} | {{short description|British politician}} | ||
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'''Sajjad Haider Karim''' (born 11 July 1970) is a | '''Sajjad Haider Karim''' (born 11 July 1970) is a British politician. He served as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] for the [[North West England (European Parliament constituency)|North West England]] between 2004 and 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/|title=Sajjad Karim MEP - 13 years standing up for North West|website=www.sajjadkarim.eu}}</ref> | ||
Sajjad is one of 10 members of the executive of European Movement UK and Chair of Conservative European Forum Trade. | Sajjad is one of 10 members of the executive of European Movement UK and Chair of Conservative European Forum Trade. | ||
He is a solicitor by profession and has been the Legal Affairs Spokesman for the Conservatives in the European Parliament since 2009. | He is a solicitor by profession and has been the Legal Affairs Spokesman for the Conservatives in the European Parliament since 2009. | ||
As well as having been a Spokesman to the WTO, Sajjad Chair's the European Parliament's South Asia Trade Monitoring Committee; South Caucasus Delegation and is rotating | As well as having been a Spokesman to the WTO, Sajjad Chair's the European Parliament's South Asia Trade Monitoring Committee; South Caucasus Delegation and is rotating chair of the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members. He also serves as the vice-president of the European Parliament's Anti-Racism & Diversity Intergroup (ARDI)<ref name="ardi1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ardi-ep.eu/|title=Home|website=www.ardi-ep.eu|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-29}}</ref> and as chair of its Working Group on Islamophobia. | ||
Through Parliament, Karim has delivered reforms which deliver exemptions for SMEs from regulation and new powers for national parliaments in EU decision-making. | In 2014 Karim was the [[European Conservatives and Reformists]] candidate for President of the European Parliament. He has developed extensive experience in Trade related issues including being the Parliamentary Rapporteur for an EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In 2015, he was given the highest National Honour bestowed upon foreigners by Pakistan for his role in securing a British Government lead initiative delivering favourable market access for Pakistan to the EU, known as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (<abbr>GSP</abbr>+).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/development/generalised-scheme-of-preferences/|title=Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) - Trade - European Commission|website=ec.europa.eu|access-date=2019-01-29}}</ref> Through Parliament, Karim has delivered reforms which deliver exemptions for SMEs from regulation and new powers for national parliaments in EU decision-making. In 2019 he was named as Dodds Parliament Magazine winner of the International Trade Award. | ||
On 19 August 2020, Karim tweeted his concerns at the current Government's lack of commitment to human rights, which was misreported by some in the media.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zorzut|first=Adrian|title=Former Tory MEP says he now backs Keir Starmer following Priti Patel's response over refugees|url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/former-tory-mep-backs-keir-starmer-on-twitter-1-6801211|access-date=2020-08-20|website=The New European|language=en}}</ref> | On 19 August 2020, Karim tweeted his concerns at the current Government's lack of commitment to human rights, which was misreported by some in the media.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zorzut|first=Adrian|title=Former Tory MEP says he now backs Keir Starmer following Priti Patel's response over refugees|url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/former-tory-mep-backs-keir-starmer-on-twitter-1-6801211|access-date=2020-08-20|website=The New European|language=en}}</ref> | ||
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He is interested in human rights issues, including [[child labour]] and the [[civil liberties]] of EU citizens in [[War on Terrorism|the War on Terror]]. He led the successful [[European Union]] contribution to the campaign for the commutation of the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]] of British man, [[Mirza Tahir Hussain]], who had spent half of his life on death row in Pakistan, for a crime he maintains he did not commit. | He is interested in human rights issues, including [[child labour]] and the [[civil liberties]] of EU citizens in [[War on Terrorism|the War on Terror]]. He led the successful [[European Union]] contribution to the campaign for the commutation of the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]] of British man, [[Mirza Tahir Hussain]], who had spent half of his life on death row in Pakistan, for a crime he maintains he did not commit. | ||
Karim has spoken out on a number of key human rights issues and in particular, campaigns for self-determination for Kashmir. He has hosted a number of conferences in the European Parliament on the issue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2014/09/10/kashmir-and-europe-prolonging-friendship-and-solidarity-says-sajjad/ |title= | Karim has spoken out on a number of key human rights issues and in particular, campaigns for self-determination for Kashmir. He has hosted a number of conferences in the European Parliament on the issue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2014/09/10/kashmir-and-europe-prolonging-friendship-and-solidarity-says-sajjad/ |title="Kashmir and Europe; prolonging friendship and solidarity" says Sajjad |access-date=2014-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006155156/http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2014/09/10/kashmir-and-europe-prolonging-friendship-and-solidarity-says-sajjad/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2013 he brought together Syrian opposition groups to try encourage a co-hesive strategy to the current regime. He has also been active on the issue of democracy in Egypt and civil rights in Turkey. | ||
On 26 November 2008, whilst visiting India as part of a European Parliament [[Committee on International Trade]] delegation (ahead of an EU-India summit), he was caught up in the [[26 November 2008 Mumbai attacks|Mumbai attacks]] in the lobby of the [[Taj Mahal Palace & Tower]] hotel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/at-least-78-dead-in-mumbai-terror-attacks-1036457.html|title=At least 78 dead in Mumbai 'terror attacks'|date=26 November 2008}}</ref> Speaking to the Associated Press while holed up in the hotel's restaurant shortly after the terrorists gained control of the hotel, Sajjad said "I was in the main lobby and there was all of a sudden a lot of firing outside...all of a sudden another gunmen appeared in front of us, carrying machine gun-type weapons. And he just started firing at us ... I just turned and ran in the opposite direction."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hz0C0SXcxgP0NxzlqGA_EI57FBkQD94MSOB80|title=Associated Press: Gunmen kill at least 78 in attacks across Mumbai}}</ref> | On 26 November 2008, whilst visiting India as part of a European Parliament [[Committee on International Trade]] delegation (ahead of an EU-India summit), he was caught up in the [[26 November 2008 Mumbai attacks|Mumbai attacks]] in the lobby of the [[Taj Mahal Palace & Tower]] hotel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/at-least-78-dead-in-mumbai-terror-attacks-1036457.html|title=At least 78 dead in Mumbai 'terror attacks'|website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=26 November 2008}}</ref> Speaking to the Associated Press while holed up in the hotel's restaurant shortly after the terrorists gained control of the hotel, Sajjad said "I was in the main lobby and there was all of a sudden a lot of firing outside...all of a sudden another gunmen appeared in front of us, carrying machine gun-type weapons. And he just started firing at us ... I just turned and ran in the opposite direction."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hz0C0SXcxgP0NxzlqGA_EI57FBkQD94MSOB80|title=Associated Press: Gunmen kill at least 78 in attacks across Mumbai}}</ref> | ||
In December 2009, he was appointed as the Legal Affairs Spokesperson for the Conservative Group in the European Parliament. He was reappointed to this front bench position in June 2014 following the European Elections in May. As well as serving as a full member of the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI), Sajjad was previously a substitute member of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee and the Civil Liberties and the Justice and Home Affairs Committee. He also previously served as a member of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries and on the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28481/Sajjad_KARIM.html|title=Sajjad KARIM - Home - MEPs - European Parliament|website=www.europarl.europa.eu}}</ref> | In December 2009, he was appointed as the Legal Affairs Spokesperson for the Conservative Group in the European Parliament. He was reappointed to this front bench position in June 2014 following the European Elections in May. As well as serving as a full member of the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI), Sajjad was previously a substitute member of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee and the Civil Liberties and the Justice and Home Affairs Committee. He also previously served as a member of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries and on the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28481/Sajjad_KARIM.html|title=Sajjad KARIM - Home - MEPs - European Parliament|website=www.europarl.europa.eu}}</ref> | ||
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In July 2011, the [[English Defence League]] staged an anti-Islamic protest outside his family home near Burnley, allegedly regarding new EU proposals on the labelling of halal meat.{{verify source|date=June 2014}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-14028512|title=MEP Sajjad Karim 'threatened' over EDL protest by home|date=5 July 2011|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The group have targeted him despite not having much to do with either [[Saudi Arabia]] or [[British Bangladeshis]].{{clarify|date=April 2019}} | In July 2011, the [[English Defence League]] staged an anti-Islamic protest outside his family home near Burnley, allegedly regarding new EU proposals on the labelling of halal meat.{{verify source|date=June 2014}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-14028512|title=MEP Sajjad Karim 'threatened' over EDL protest by home|date=5 July 2011|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The group have targeted him despite not having much to do with either [[Saudi Arabia]] or [[British Bangladeshis]].{{clarify|date=April 2019}} | ||
In February 2012, Karim was one of five MEPs to be appointed to a panel to police the new code of conduct rules that will govern the behaviour of MEPs. He is the only British MEP to serve on this committee. The Advisory Committee provides guidance to MEPs and advises the Parliament's president on what steps to take in the event of alleged breaches of the code.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2012/02/09/sajjad-honoured-to-be-appointed-to-new-panel/|title=Sajjad appointed to new panel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303003945/http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2012/02/09/sajjad-honoured-to-be-appointed-to-new-panel/|archive-date=3 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In February 2014 he was appointed | In February 2012, Karim was one of five MEPs to be appointed to a panel to police the new code of conduct rules that will govern the behaviour of MEPs. He is the only British MEP to serve on this committee. The Advisory Committee provides guidance to MEPs and advises the Parliament's president on what steps to take in the event of alleged breaches of the code.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2012/02/09/sajjad-honoured-to-be-appointed-to-new-panel/|title=Sajjad appointed to new panel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303003945/http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2012/02/09/sajjad-honoured-to-be-appointed-to-new-panel/|archive-date=3 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In February 2014 he was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee by the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. | ||
After the European elections in 2014, he was selected as the European Conservative and Reformist Group Parliament Presidential candidate. The incumbent Martin Schultz retained his position as president, with Karim coming second out of four candidates, widely acknowledged that he secured support from MEPs right across the house beyond his own group. | After the European elections in 2014, he was selected as the European Conservative and Reformist Group Parliament Presidential candidate. The incumbent Martin Schultz retained his position as president, with Karim coming second out of four candidates, widely acknowledged that he secured support from MEPs right across the house beyond his own group. | ||
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Karim made headline news in December 2012 when he played an instrumental role in securing the return of six-year-old Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson to UK from Pakistan following abduction by her father. Over several weeks he worked closely with Greater Manchester Police and the Pakistani authorities and Atiya was returned safely to her mother during the Christmas holidays.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-20856712 | work=BBC News | title=Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson being returned from Pakistan | date=28 December 2012}}</ref> | Karim made headline news in December 2012 when he played an instrumental role in securing the return of six-year-old Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson to UK from Pakistan following abduction by her father. Over several weeks he worked closely with Greater Manchester Police and the Pakistani authorities and Atiya was returned safely to her mother during the Christmas holidays.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-20856712 | work=BBC News | title=Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson being returned from Pakistan | date=28 December 2012}}</ref> | ||
In December 2013, the European Parliament voted to approve a concessionary trade status for Pakistan, GSP+. The preferential trade package for Pakistan's exports to EU countries came into force in January 2014. He steered the International Trade Committee to approve the beneficial trade tariff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2013/12/12/sak-8-years-of-work-finally-secures-gsp-status-for-pakistan/ |title= | In December 2013, the European Parliament voted to approve a concessionary trade status for Pakistan, GSP+. The preferential trade package for Pakistan's exports to EU countries came into force in January 2014. He steered the International Trade Committee to approve the beneficial trade tariff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2013/12/12/sak-8-years-of-work-finally-secures-gsp-status-for-pakistan/ |title=Saj – 8 years of work finally secures GSP+ status for Pakistan |access-date=2014-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122126/http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2013/12/12/sak-8-years-of-work-finally-secures-gsp-status-for-pakistan/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | ||
From 2014 to 2019, Karim steered the European Parliament's relations with the South Caucasus as | From 2014 to 2019, Karim steered the European Parliament's relations with the South Caucasus as chair of the region's delegation, successfully contributing to the establishment of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with Armenia and its GSP+ trading regime. He has helped finalise the negotiations on a new comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan and has been monitoring & guiding the implementation of the Association Agreement with Georgia, which includes a Deep & Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement component. | ||
Karim has been appointed as the | Karim has been appointed as the vice-chair of ARDI<ref name="ardi1"/> and as chair of its Working group on Islamophobia. He has held multiple events within the European Parliament aimed at raising awareness of the issue of Islamophobia. In 2018, the European Parliament - as part of its 2019 election campaign - displayed a poster on the Simone Veil Agora, featuring a photo of an ordinary Muslim family, captioned with ‘We need to work together to challenge migration’.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-eu-told-drop-islamophobic-election-advert-british-mep-113911379.html|title=EXCLUSIVE: EU told to scrap 'Islamophobic' election advert by British MEP|website=uk.finance.yahoo.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-29}}</ref> Sajjad who considered the poster islamophobic was the only MEP who personally wrote to President [[Antonio Tajani|Tajani]] challenging the poster, raising the issue in Plenary and eventually compelling the President to take down the poster.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/european-parliament-remove-islamophobic-election-advert-153008235.html|title=European parliament to remove 'Islamophobic' election advert|website=uk.finance.yahoo.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-29}}</ref> | ||
==Recognition== | ==Recognition== | ||
Karim was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for the University of Management and Technology in Lahore for his work in securing the GSP+ deal and for services to the British Pakistani community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2013/12/16/prime-minister-congratulates-dr-sajjad-karim-mep/ |title= | Karim was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for the University of Management and Technology in Lahore for his work in securing the GSP+ deal and for services to the British Pakistani community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2013/12/16/prime-minister-congratulates-dr-sajjad-karim-mep/ |title=Prime Minister congratulates Dr Sajjad Karim MEP |access-date=2014-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006162538/http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2013/12/16/prime-minister-congratulates-dr-sajjad-karim-mep/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | ||
In August 2014 he was awarded the Sitara-i-qaid-i-Azam, Pakistan's highest national honour to non-Pakistanis, for his services to strengthen Pakistan/UK and Pakistan/EU relations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2014/08/14/saj-awarded-pakistans-highest-honour/ |title= | In August 2014 he was awarded the Sitara-i-qaid-i-Azam, Pakistan's highest national honour to non-Pakistanis, for his services to strengthen Pakistan/UK and Pakistan/EU relations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2014/08/14/saj-awarded-pakistans-highest-honour/ |title=Saj awarded Pakistan's highest honour |access-date=2014-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006185822/http://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2014/08/14/saj-awarded-pakistans-highest-honour/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Sajjad was presented with the award in March 2015 by Pakistan President, [[Mamnoon Hussain]], at a ceremony in Islamabad. | ||
In January 2015, he was nominated for the Politician of the Year award at the [[British Muslim Awards]].<ref name="asianimage">{{cite news |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled|publisher=Asian Image|date=23 January 2015|accessdate=1 November 2015}}</ref> | In January 2015, he was nominated for the Politician of the Year award at the [[British Muslim Awards]].<ref name="asianimage">{{cite news |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled|publisher=Asian Image|date=23 January 2015|accessdate=1 November 2015}}</ref> | ||
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* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28481/SAJJAD_KARIM_activities.html Sajjad Karim: profile] on the European Parliament website | * [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28481/SAJJAD_KARIM_activities.html Sajjad Karim: profile] on the European Parliament website | ||
{{2008 Mumbai attacks}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karim, Sajjad Haider}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Karim, Sajjad Haider}} | ||
[[Category:1970 births]] | [[Category:1970 births]] | ||
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[[Category:English Muslims]] | [[Category:English Muslims]] | ||
[[Category:English people of Pakistani descent]] | [[Category:English people of Pakistani descent]] | ||
[[Category:Alumni of The | [[Category:Alumni of The University of Law]] | ||
[[Category:Survivors of the 2008 Mumbai attacks]] | [[Category:Survivors of the 2008 Mumbai attacks]] | ||
[[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) MEPs]] | [[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) MEPs]] | ||