Salma Yaqoob is a prominent British political activist, psychotherapist, and public servant, raised in Birmingham, first in Alum Rock and later in Kings Heath. Educated at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, she went on to study Human and Applied Psychology at Aston University, later completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling at Birmingham City University.
Yaqoob became politically active after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, quickly emerging as a key organiser in the Stop the War Coalition. She was a speaker at the historic anti-Iraq War protest in 2003, which drew over two million people. In 2004, she co-founded the Respect Party, working alongside figures like George Monbiot and George Galloway to offer a political voice to movements advocating for economic and foreign policy justice. She led the party until her resignation in 2012.
In 2005, she stood for election in Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath, finishing second with 27.5% of the vote. In 2006, she was elected to Birmingham City Council with nearly half the vote in her ward. That same year, she was honoured with the Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Award and featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s list of women shaping Britain.
She stood again in 2010 in Birmingham Hall Green, finishing a close second with endorsements from both the outgoing Labour MP and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas. She was re-elected to the council but stood down in 2011 due to ill health.
Yaqoob has consistently fought for civil liberties, often in the face of threats and opposition. She played a key role in exposing Project Champion, a secret police surveillance operation targeting Muslim communities, which led to a rare public apology and camera removals. She also led successful grassroots campaigns, including to save Balsall Heath baths and challenge cuts to youth services.
In 2014, she founded Hands Off Birmingham Schools, challenging the political narrative around the so-called Trojan Horse affair. She was later shortlisted as Labour’s West Midlands Mayoral candidate in 2019, becoming the first woman and BAME person to do so.
Her activism has always been voluntary. Professionally, she works in the NHS and is currently Associate Director for Health Inequalities at NHS Birmingham and Solihull. She’s a regular media commentator and holds an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University for public service.
Salma Yaqoob is a dedicated mother of three and a lifelong campaigner for justice, unity, and equality.
When asked about what sparked her activism, Salma says:
“The catalyst for me was after 9/11. It happened thousands of miles away, but being visibly Muslim, suddenly I was associated with it, and the climate changed very quickly, literally overnight.”
