Ms Arshad, a barrister, was last week appointed a deputy district judge on the Midlands circuit. The first judge in the UK and Western world to wear a hijab is an inspiration to young Muslims.

Raffia Arshad, 40, grew up in Yorkshire, north England, has wanted to work in law since she was 11. Ms Arshad, a mother of three, has been practising private law dealing with children, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other cases for the past 17 years. She also authored a leading text in Islamic family law. Educated from many leading UK universities including a Diploma in Islamic Jurisprudence from The Markfield Institute of Higher Education in 2007-2008.

With discrimination widespread in some parts of British society, Raffia success will inspire other young Muslims and Ethnic women to pursue their dreams if they see more people who look like them in every profession.

The latest figures from judges who declared their information to the Judicial Office show that, of 3,210 in courts across England and Wales, only 205 (6%) are from a BAME background. Only 1,013 (31%) are women, as of April 1, 2019.

"The judicial office are doing their utmost to promote diversity and at the time they appointed me they didn't know I was going to be the first hijab-wearing judge," she told Metro newspaper.

On her appointment, the Joint Heads of St Mary's Family Law Chambers said they were "delighted to hear of Raffia's appointment", which was "richly deserved and entirely on merit", as quoted in Metro newspaper

Although the promotion by the Lord Chief Justice was welcome news for her, Ms Arshad said the happiness from other people sharing the news was “far greater”. So start sharing :-)

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