Naz Shah MP launched her memoir Honoured to an enraptured audience at the Midland Hotel in Bradford on International Women’s Day.
The 350-capacity room was packed with a captivated audience who listened as Shah spoke bravely and openly with host Sabah Choudhry about her experiences growing up as a woman in Bradford, her mother’s abuse, and her fight for justice on behalf of her mother.
Indeed, when asked about her life, Shah said, “God has given me a gift. When we tell stories and talk about culture it allows more people to tell their stories. It allows kids to think ‘if she can do it, I can do it.’”
In the audience at the event were such notables as Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor for West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime; Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, Sheikh AbdalHaq Bewley; Anna Dixon MP; Lord Wajid Khan of Burnley; Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, and more. The audience was a who’s who of Bradford, including local councillors, Bradford’s key business figures, and civic and community leaders. The event brought the community together in celebration and concluded with a standing ovation. As Shah herself said, “This book is about Bradford. I’m as Bradford as they come.”
Following the discussion, Shah took questions from the audience and continued to speak candidly about her experiences, how they have shaped the woman she has become and how her faith, Islam, has empowered her to challenge injustices in all their forms including domestic violence. She described the Qur’an as her “feminist handbook.”
Shah spoke about her life as an MP and her ongoing fight for her city and her constituency, Bradford West, ending on a strong message for the audience, with a note of thanks: “The suffragettes shifted the culture; we have to shift the culture. There’s still problems but you have to fight it, you have to be in the system to change it. (You have to) work with people and find allies, find the male allies who will help change the system. It’s not just the women’s responsibility to make it right. Thank you to the men who stand up against the misogyny.”
Shah also spoke about the Muslim men in her life who have supported her, helping her challenge patriarchy and continue her fight against baradari politics.
The event concluded with iftar to signal the end of the day’s fast. It was a fantastic event showcasing the brilliant culture to be found in West Yorkshire, as well as the local community’s appetite for it. The event brought together people from all walks of life to share in Shah’s incredible story.
Naz Shah, MP said, “Launching my book in my hometown, within the community I have served throughout my career including more than 10 years as a Member of Parliament and where I live with my family, is brilliant. I will always be a champion for Bradford and its people. To have so many people from my local community here tonight, many of whom have been part of my journey, means more to me than I can put into words. Mine is a story of resilience and faith, and my book and this event have showcased that.”
Syima Aslam, CEO and Artistic Director of BLF, said, “Naz Shah’s journey is one of courage and determination, and it was a privilege for Bradford Literature Festival to host the launch of her book here in the city she serves.”
Honoured is available for purchase now.
