(Photo courtesy of Tasnim Nazeer)

Elham Asaad Buaras

A mother-of-five became the first hijab-wearing reporter on Scottish television last month. Tasnim Nazeer – a former winner of The Muslim News Ibn Battuta Award for Excellence in Media – appeared on STV news on July 30 reporting on the lack of support for bereaved families in Scotland.

The 34-year-old Glasgow-based journalist tweeted, ‘Really pleased to have done my first TV report as a freelance journo for @STVNews at Six highlighting the need for more bereavement support in Scotland.

Speaking to The Muslim News on the importance of her historic milestone, Nazeer called for “better representation on our screens that reflect the national portrait of this country.”

“I have been contacted by people around the world saying that ‘this would not happen in our country, and this is a step forward’. For this reason, I am calling for better diversity and representation in the media globally not just in Scotland but around the world.”

Addressing her challenges she said, “Sadly, over the years I have experienced being told that I had all the skills and qualifications but the only problem was that I don’t quite have the ‘right look’.

I was asked by someone I networked within the industry whether I would ever consider removing my hijab stating that I wouldn’t have a problem after that.I refuse to compromise my hijab and my identity as a Muslim woman and thought to myself that I rather keep trying and retain my identity or give up my ambition and stick to space within the industry that I was in already.“

Originally from London and of Sri Lankan heritage, Tasnim has written for a variety of print and online publications including The Huffington Post, Al Jazeera English, The Guardian, TRT World, BBC Radio 2 and many more. She was awarded the Rising Stars in Media Awards 2018 by FIPP the global network of media.