Aamer Anwar is a British lawyer who has made a name for himself as a human rights activist and a media personality. He started the law company Aamer Anwar & Co. and is the main lawyer there. The firm focuses on criminal defence, civil freedoms, and human rights.
Also, he used to be the head of the University of Glasgow and is a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP).
Biography
Aamer Anwar was born in Manchester, England, on December 30, 1967. His parents were from Pakistan. As a child, he had to deal with racism and abuse in Liverpool, where he grew up.
Education
Aamer went to Calderstones School and then to the University of Glasgow to study mechanical engineering so that he could join the Royal Air Force. But he became a student organiser and led a campaign against what he saw as racism at the city’s dental hospital.
The journey of becoming a lawyer
Police arrested him in 1991 for flyposting in Ashton Lane, Glasgow, and officers brutally assaulted him. He took legal action against the police and won the case in 1995, becoming the first person in Scotland to successfully sue the police for a racially aggravated assault.
This incident inspired him to study law and become a lawyer. He graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1999 and became a solicitor in 2000. He founded his own law firm, Aamer Anwar & Co., in 2006.
Aamer Anwar Personal Life
Aamer Anwar is married and has three children, a son and two daughters. He is a Muslim from Glasgow. He loves football and Liverpool FC. A 2004 workplace firebombing, a 2008 murder threat from a far-right party, and a 2017 hate letter campaign have all targeted him for his work.
Achievements
Some of his notable cases and campaigns are:
Famous Chhokar case
He fought for justice for the family of Surjit Singh Chhokar, a waiter who was stabbed to death in 1998 in a racist incident. He secured three public inquiries and a retrial for the accused, who were convicted in 2016.
2015 case
Aamer represented the family of Sheku Bayoh, a black man who passed away in 2015 following his arrest by Kirkcaldy police. He called for a public investigation and criminal prosecution of the officers and revealed police and Crown Office bigotry and cover-up.
Defamation case
Aamer represented former MSP and Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan, who was accused of lying in 2010 after winning a defamation lawsuit against the News of the World. He said the press and police conspired against Sheridan and that the evidence was contrived and false. Anwar appealed after Sheridan was convicted and sentenced to three years.
Aamer Anwar awards and nominations
- The Asian Power List: In 2009 and 2010, the Asian Power List named him one of the 100 most influential Asians in the UK.
- Asian Media Awards: He was nominated for Best News Presenter in 2014 and 2016, and Media Personality of the Year in 2017.
- The Asian Women of Achievement Awards: He was a 2018 Professional of the Year nominee.
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FAQs
Q: Who is Aamer Anwar?
Aamer Anwar is a British lawyer with Pakistani roots who is well-known for his work as a spokesperson for human rights and in the media.
Q: Is Aamer Anwar separated from his wife?
Aamer Anwar is married to Ifet Raza, a solicitor who works in commercial property. I could not find any reliable source that confirms or denies that they are separated.
Q: How did Aamer Anwar become a lawyer?
Following his assault by the police in 1991 for flyposting in Glasgow, Aamer Anwar decided to become a lawyer. In 1999, he graduated from the University of Strathclyde. He became a lawyer in 2000. In 2006, he opened his own law company called Aamer Anwar & Co.
Q: What BBC programmes has Aamer Anwar appeared on?
Aamer Anwar has appeared on many BBC programmes, such as BBC Breakfast, Question Time, and The Big Questions, where he discusses various issues and challenges facing the UK and the world.