Nadine Osman
Editor and founder of The Muslim News, Ahmed Jafferali Versi, received the Freedom of the City of London on July 18 for his contributions to journalism, the British Muslim community, and an outstanding contribution to London at London’s Guildhall.
It is the highest honour the City of London can bestow. “I was very humbled, honoured, and incredibly proud to have been awarded the Freedom of the City and recognised by the city I live in and love,” said Versi after receiving the accolade.
Versi was nominated by Kawsar Zaman, Alderman of Bishopsgate in the City of London. The role of Alderman is a very senior elected position in the City of London Corporation, voted directly by businesses and residents within the City of London.
was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts by the University of Bedfordshire in September 2007. This was in recognition of his achievements in the media and as the founder and Editor of The Muslim News.
He launched The Muslim News Awards for Excellence, an annual awards ceremony celebrating Muslim achievements in the UK, in 2000, which he describes as one of his proudest career achievements.
Versi is passionate about female empowerment and Muslim women’s involvement in sport, having established the British Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation, as well as previously serving as Vice President of the International Islamic Women’s Games.
The Freedom of the City is one of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies. It is believed to have been first presented in 1237 as the status of a ‘free man’ or ‘citizen’, protected by the charter of the City of London and not under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord.
The Freedom of the City of London was, in the earliest times, an essential requirement for all who wished to carry on business and prosper in trade within the Square Mile. As a result, the privileges attached to the Freedom were eagerly sought, while the duties and obligations of freemen were faithfully observed.
In the Middle Ages, this developed into a freedom or right to trade, becoming closely linked to the mediaeval guilds, the livery companies.
Among the many prominent recipients of the Freedom of the City are 12 members of the royal family, including Princess Diana in 1987 and Prince Edward in 2011, as well as 10 previous Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill in 1943 and Margaret Thatcher in 1989.
Photo: Ahmed Jafferali Versi, Editor of The Muslim News, is presented with a Freedom of the City of London certificate on July 18, by Laura Miller, Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court, in London Guildhall. (Credit:The Muslim News)
