Apsana Begum receives Award from Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation

Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor,Shottobani

London: Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum has been awarded a Special Recognition Award by the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKRWO) at its prestigious True Honour Awards ceremony in Central London.

The annual awards celebrate individuals and organisations who have taken a stand against so-called ‘honour’-based abuse and other harmful practices over the past 12 months. Winners are nominated by members of the public and selected by a distinguished panel of judges. This year’s ceremony, held on Tuesday 4 March, was opened by Brendan Roche KC and attended by Members of Parliament, charities, legal professionals, academics, activists and corporate partners from across the UK.

Apsana Begum was recognised for her work in Parliament championing legal reform and survivor-centred policy to end ‘honour’-based abuse. She has campaigned for a statutory definition of ‘honour’-based abuse and, as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Abuse and Violence, has highlighted the disproportionate impact of abuse on marginalised communities, including migrant women and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who face additional barriers such as language access and insecure immigration status.

Speaking after receiving the award, Apsana Begum said, “Having lived in East London all my life and amidst a surge in racism in the UK, I believe it is important to remind that so-called ‘honour’-based abuse can happen to anyone, cutting across all countries, all cultures and all religions and none. I dedicate this award to all survivors and victims of ‘honour’-based abuse, from Banaz Mahmod to Suma Begum and sadly, many more. As war and conflict rages in the Middle East and beyond, I extend my solidarity to women and children who continue to face unimaginable horror and insurmountable challenges. From Palestine to Iran, Syria to Sudan, Ukraine to Kashmir and much beyond, we must continue to extend our solidarity because our struggles are intertwined.”

Other award recipients included Matt Mahmood-Ogston of the Matt and Naz Foundation, Shamila Dhana of Standing Together Against FGM, and Dr Rahaf Aldhoughli, Lecturer in Middle East and North African Studies. IKRWO’s True Honour Awards continue to shine a spotlight on those working tirelessly to end abuse and support survivors across the UK.