Shabana Mahmood breaks barriers as UK's 1st woman Muslim Lord Chancellor

British-Pakistani Shabana Mahmood on Monday took oath as the United Kingdom's new Lord Chancellor, becoming the first female Muslim to be appointed to the post.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood was sworn in as the new Lord Chancellor at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in the presence of Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr, the President of the Supreme Court Robert Reed and the Chancellor of the High Court Julian Flaux.

The 43-year-old Kashmiri-origin Birmingham MP took to social media to share the news with the world on X and wrote: "Today I was honoured to be sworn in as Lord Chancellor, promising to defend our independent judiciary from interference and undue pressure.

"I will be a champion of the Rule of Law. 900 years into this ancient role, it is more vital than ever before."

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, she vowed to continue "defending the international rule of law and upholding human rights".

Mahmood took her oath of allegiance on the Holy Quran and said in her speech that she was "the first Lord Chancellor to speak Urdu".

She emphasised that the new Labour government would continue "defending the international rule of law and upholding human rights" in line with the European Convention on Human Rights, drawn up after the Second World War.

She also acknowledged the challenges faced by the justice system, adding that more should be done to provide access to justice for women and girls "who are the victims of violence and abuse".

Addressing the Lord Chancellor, Carr said: "There will no doubt be challenges and choices to be made today and tomorrow. That is an inevitable feature of governing.

"We will work with you and your ministers as you face these demands. I very much look forward to forging a stable, long-term partnership with you as Lord Chancellor within, of course, constitutional bounds, in the service of justice and the achievement of justice."