{{Short description|British equality adviser}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Dr Waqar Azmi OBE |image = |office = UK Government's former Chief Diversity Adviser and EU Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue |birth_date = 1970 |birth_place = Azamgarh, India |death_date = |death_place = |spouse = Salma Yaqoob }}
'''Waqar Azmi''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} is a British political consultant, civil servant and charity director, listed among the world's 500 most influential Muslims by Georgetown University,<ref>Prof. John Esposito and Prof. Ibrahim Kalin (2009) The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, page 144, Georgetown University: The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre & The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, http://themuslim500.com/downloads/2009-low.pdf</ref> as well as the Asian power 100 list of the most influential Asians in the UK and, the Muslim power 100 List of the most influential Muslims in the UK.<ref>[http://www.power100.co.uk/assets/pdf/MUSLIM_100_PUBLICATION.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008055716/http://www.power100.co.uk/assets/pdf/MUSLIM_100_PUBLICATION.pdf|date=8 October 2011}}</ref> He was the chief diversity adviser at the UK Cabinet Office from 2004 to 2013<ref name="timesonline1">{{cite web |author=Gibb |first=Frances |author-link=Frances Gibb |title=The Times |url=https://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/public_sector/article711590.ece |access-date=20 October 2011 |publisher=The Times |archive-date=12 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612160812/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/public_sector/article711590.ece |url-status=dead }}{{subscription required}}</ref> and the EU Ambassador of Intercultural Dialogue from 2008 to 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu/1161.0.html?&L=0&L=0 |title=DG EAC – European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008) – Dr. Waqar Azmi OBE |publisher=Interculturaldialogue2008.eu |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> He is the founder and chairman of Remembering Srebrenica.<ref>Jo Siedlecka, Friday, 12 July, 'Archbishop Nichols speaks at Remembering Srebrenica memorial day', London: Independent Catholic News, http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22939</ref>
== Early life and career == Waqar Azmi grew up with his family in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, and moved to the UK at the age of 13, speaking no English when he arrived. He attended the University of Central Lancashire, graduating in 1993 with a degree in politics and social policy.<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Dont-be-reactionary-Blair-adviser-tells-Muslims/articleshow/17725685.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216071506/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-23/mumbai/35981894_1_sunni-muslims-islamic-preachers-waqar-azmi |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-02-16 |last=Wajihuddin |first=Mohammed |title=Don't be 'reactionary', Blair adviser tells Muslims |date=2012-12-23 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2013-02-22}}</ref> He later completed a doctorate on a topic related to diversity and equality issues.<ref name="BH">{{cite web |title=Patrons of Bosnia House UK Network |website=Bosnia UK Network |accessdate=16 October 2025 |url=https://bosniauknetwork.org/about-company/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926143556/https://bosniauknetwork.org/about-company/ |archive-date=26 September 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2001, he became the managing director at the world's largest consultancy firm, TMP Worldwide Advertising and Communications and Monster.com and, chairman of Waterhouse Consulting Group in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterhouseconsulting.co.uk/ |title=Waterhouse Consulting Group |publisher=Waterhouseconsulting.co.uk |access-date=2013-02-22}}</ref> Azmi founded the British Federation of Racial Equality Councils in 2001,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bforec.co.uk/History.htm |title=British Federation of Racial Equality Councils |publisher=Bforec.co.uk |date=2001-04-25 |access-date=2013-02-22}}</ref><ref name="CPR">{{cite web |title=William Hague Leads Tributes to Srebrenica Genocide Victims, Calls for a United Bosnia to Join European Union |website=Curzon PR |accessdate=16 October 2025 |url=https://curzonpr.com/post-press-release-srebrenica-memorial-day/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322130353/https://curzonpr.com/post-press-release-srebrenica-memorial-day/ |archive-date=22 March 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> a UK body of racial equality councils and partnerships representing over 100 councils across England, Scotland and Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bforec.co.uk/History.htm |title=British Federation of Racial Equality Councils |publisher=Bforec.co.uk |date=25 April 2001 |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> He also founded the think tank Race Equality West Midlands<ref>[http://www.rewm.org/Our_History.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517023027/http://www.rewm.org/Our_History.htm|date=17 May 2008}}</ref> and the Herefordshire Equality Partnership.<ref>[http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/social_issues/diversity/23764.asp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523050421/http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/social_issues/diversity/23764.asp|date=23 May 2010}}</ref>
After launching a memorial event for the Srebrenica massacre in London in July 2013 with support from David Cameron's government, he became the chairman of the newly established charity Remembering Srebrenica later that summer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chairman of the UK's "Remembering Srebrenica" Initiative visits the International Commission on Missing Persons |work=International Commission on Missing Persons |date=6 September 2013 |accessdate=14 October 2025 |url=https://icmp.int/press-releases/chairman-of-the/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302105321/https://icmp.int/press-releases/chairman-of-the/ |archive-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
He has been a patron of the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network since 2014.<ref name="BH" />
== Civil service career == In October 2004, he was appointed as UK Government's chief talent and diversity adviser at the Cabinet Office under the second Blair ministry. He launched the 10-Point Plan on diversity to drive change across Whitehall and for the first time in the UK, linked diversity performance of each government department to the pay and bonus of Permanent Secretaries.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 November 2005 |title=/ UK – Breaking down barriers to top jobs in Whitehall |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a3c00710-4a7c-11da-b8b1-0000779e2340 |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 October 2011 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> ''The Times'' wrote: "Azmi raised eyebrows when he announced that the bonuses of permanent secretaries would be linked to their success in meeting the targets".<ref name="timesonline1"/> Britain's only Asian Permanent Secretary, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, and a former Minister, Keith Vaz, welcomed the announcement, saying it would accelerate change in the civil service. But Keith Vaz warned: "I'm quite sure there will be resistance to this".<ref>{{cite news|author=Tania Branigan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/01/uk.society |title=Meet diversity targets or risk cut in bonuses, civil servants warned | Politics |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=20 October 2011 |date=1 November 2005}}</ref>
Azmi's work led each government department to prepare a delivery plan and stepped up the pace of change including advertising for open competition the posts of Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors and other sensitive and top governmental jobs.<ref name="timesonline1"/> ''The Guardian'' called Azmi "The Equaliser"<ref name="guardian2004">{{cite news|author=Mary O'Hara |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/oct/13/equality.guardiansocietysupplement |title=Public manager: Waqar Azmi, Whitehall's new adviser on diversity | Society |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=20 October 2011 |date=13 October 2004}}</ref> and ''The Times'' called him "Whitehall's diversity champ."<ref name="timesonline1"/> Pat McFadden, the then Cabinet Office Minister said in a speech that Azmi was "doing a hugely important job".<ref>Cabinet Office (2007) 'Informing the Public: Speech by Pat McFadden, Cabinet Office Minister Joint Event with Howell James, Permanent Secretary Government Communications', page 6, London: Cabinet Office, http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130128101412/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/corp/assets/publications/speeches/mcfadden/rtf/informing_public.rtf</ref> Other commentators like Paul Zickel writing in ''The Times'' said: "Disability in the Civil Service recently moved out of the shadows and into the mainstream. For me, the key driver was the Civil Service-wide ten-point plan developed by Waqar Azmi".<ref>{{cite web |author=Gibb |first=Frances |author-link=Frances Gibb |title=The Times |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/public_sector/article1536863.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611164220/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/public_sector/article1536863.ece |archive-date=11 June 2011 |access-date=20 October 2011 |publisher=The Times}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
From 2008 to 2009, he held the post of the EU Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue at the European Parliament.<ref name="CPR" />
He left the Cabinet Office to establish Remembering Srebrenica in 2013 with support from Baroness Warsi.<ref>{{citation |last1=Vellenga |first1=Sipco J. |last2=Wiegers |first2=Gerard A. |title=Jews and Muslims in London and Amsterdam: Conflict and Cooperation, 1990–2020 |location=London |publisher=Routledge |year=2023 |p=254 |isbn=978-1-032-31695-6 |doi=10.4324/9781003331643 |url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/59302/9781000812145.pdf}}</ref>
In 2014, he was appointed to the newly established Foreign Office Advisory Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, chaired by Baroness Warsi.<ref>{{cite web |title=Foreign Office Advisory Group on freedom of religion or belief |website=gov.uk |date=25 March 2014 |accessdate=14 October 2025 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-advisory-group-on-freedom-of-religion-or-belief |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529033803/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-advisory-group-on-freedom-of-religion-or-belief |archive-date=29 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==ISIS calls for murder== In 2016, ISIS called for the murder of Azmi along with 20 other top Western Muslims leaders including Conservative Party ministers Sajid Javid and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Hillary Clinton's advisor Huma Abedin in their 2016 online English-language magazine, Dabiq in an article entitled "Kill the imams of kufr in the west", who, according to ISIS, "directly involve themselves in politics and enforcing the laws of kufr (non-believers)."<ref name=Dabiq14>{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Kill the Imams of the West| url=https://www.clarionproject.org/docs/Dabiq-Issue-14.pdf |journal= Dabiq 1437 Rajab (April - May 2016)|publisher= Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |access-date= 2016-04-30|issue=14|pages= 8–18|quotation=Lastly, one must not overlook the overt crusaders, those who don’t even wear the cloak of da’wah, but instead directly involve themselves in politics and enforcing the laws of kufr, like (in the US) Mohamed Elibiary, Arif Alikhan, Rashad Hussain, Keith Ellison, Huma Abedin, etc. and (in the UK) Muhammad Abdul Bari, Sayeeda Warsi, Waqar Azmi, Sajid Javid, Ajmal Masroor, and other politically active apostates..(p. 17)}}</ref> The article brands Azmi and those on the 'hit list' as "apostate" <ref>5Pillars, 14 April 2016, 'ISIS publishes "hit list" of British and Western Muslim leaders', London: 5 Pillars: http://5pillarsuk.com/2016/04/14/isis-publishes-hit-list-of-british-and-western-muslim-leaders/</ref> and urges their murder by encouraging followers in other countries to "wage jihad by himself with the resources available to him (knives, guns, explosives, etc.) to kill the crusaders and other disbelievers and apostates."<ref name=Dabiq14 /><ref>Emily Collis, 15 April 2016, 'Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid named on ISIS kill list', Bromsgrove Advertiser: http://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/news/14430024.Sajid_Javid_named_on_ISIS_kill_list/</ref>
== Public inquiries == Azmi has been involved in several public inquiries in the UK. He was also on the 2001 Oldham riots inquiry which was set up to investigate the riots that occurred in May 2001. He was an open critic of the inquiry, claiming that under government pressure the Inquiry was steered towards language and citizenship, instead of structural inequalities and the growing influence of far-right groups such as the British National Party (BNP).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2010198.stm |title=UK | England | Riot report is 'flawed' |work=BBC News |date=27 May 2002 |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref>
== Awards, nominations and honorary degrees ==
In 2025 Waqar Azmi received the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Service to Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance and Combating Hatred by President Željko Komšić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina <ref>N1 Sarajevo, 09 December 2025, 'Presidential Award honors Dr. Waqar Azmi OBE for Srebrenica Remembrance efforts', N1 English: https://n1info.ba/english/news/presidential-award-honors-dr-waqar-azmi-obe-for-srebrenica-remembrance-efforts/</ref><ref>World News TV United Kingdom, 09 December 2025, 'Presidential Award for Dr Waqar Azmi OBE for Extraordinary Service to Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance and Combating Hatred', World News TV: https://wntv.co.uk/remembering-srebrenica-uk-2/</ref> and in 2002 he received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours at the age of 32 by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his major contributions in the UK.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk/2002/birthday_honours_2002/2045206.stm |title=In Depth | Birthday Honours 2002 | OBEs A – M |work=BBC News |date=14 June 2002 |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> and in 2003 he was awarded Britain's Young Asian Achievers Award by Lloyds TSB.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewelawards.tv/winner.asp?catid=8&locid=2 |title=Asian Jewel Awards – 2003 Winners |publisher=Jewelawards.tv |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref>
In 2001 Azmi was awarded an honorary master's degree by the University of Worcester.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=165598§ioncode=26 |title=Glittering prizes |magazine=Times Higher Education |date=2 November 2001 |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Southampton Solent University,<ref name="solent1">{{cite web|url=http://portal-live.solent.ac.uk/university/mediabox2/waqarAzmi.aspx |title=Portal Mobile |publisher=Portal-live.solent.ac.uk |access-date=2013-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716093737/http://portal-live.solent.ac.uk/university/mediabox2/waqarAzmi.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref> and later that year, the University of Central Lancashire awarded him an Honorary Fellowship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/uclan/honorary_graduates/index.php |title=Honorary Fellows – University of Central Lancashire |publisher=Uclan.ac.uk |date=4 September 2007 |access-date=20 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927130104/http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/uclan/honorary_graduates/index.php |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref>
In 2017 Azmi received an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Bedfordshire <ref>Bromsgrove Standard, 19 November 2017, 'Bromsgrove's Dr Waqar Azmi awarded honorary doctorate for Remembering Srebrenica charity work', Tristan Harris: https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/lifestyle/bromsgroves-dr-waqar-azmi-awarded-honorary-doctorate-for-remembering-srebrenica-charity-work/</ref> and in January 2015, he was nominated for the Spirit of Britain award at the British Muslim Awards.<ref name="asianimage">{{cite news |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled|publisher=Asian Image|date=23 January 2015|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref>
== Views on extremism == The ''Times of India'' wrote: "After he had finished delivering an inspiring speech at a career fest last week, Dr Waqar Azmi was almost mobbed by the crowd. It seemed like the Muslim gathering had waited for a long time for someone like him".<ref name="The Times of India" /> Speaking to a Muslim audience of 150,000 (Urdu/Hindi: 1.5 lakh people)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Sunni-leaders-preach-tolerance-purity-to-1-5-lakh-attendees-on-final-day-of-Ijtema/Article1-973748.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130220071126/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Sunni-leaders-preach-tolerance-purity-to-1-5-lakh-attendees-on-final-day-of-Ijtema/Article1-973748.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2013 |title=Sunni leaders preach tolerance, purity to 1.5 lakh attendees on final day of Ijtema |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=2012-12-17 |access-date=2013-02-22}}</ref> in Mumbai, he "slammed those who killed innocent people in the name of Islam. Evil has taken over the hearts of those who maim innocent children, blow up houses and kill people. It is our duty to help purify those dirty hearts," he said. A section of Muslims had gone astray as they had left the Prophet's message behind, he said. "We must illuminate the hearts of those misguided."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Sunni-conference-asks-Muslims-to-shun-violence/articleshow/17643997.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216071449/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-17/mumbai/35868408_1_prophet-quran-superstitions |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-02-16 |title=Sunni conference asks Muslims to shun violence |date=2012-12-17 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2013-02-22}}</ref>
Azmi sees globalisation as an opportunity for greater integration and understanding. He cites the Prophet's choices in the initial days of Islam: "He could have tried to destroy all non-Muslims in Medina; commanded everyone to become a Muslim; or chosen the path of integration. He chose the last option and invited everyone, including Jews and Christians, to the society he formed. The problem surfaces when, instead of integration, Muslims want to colonise. They want to create a separate society.<ref name="The Times of India"/>"
Azmi also believes that Muslims themselves are largely responsible for the problems and challenges that exists in their communities due to a lack of education, activism and effective leadership: "Muslims have become reactionary rather than responding forces," he says. "Reaction leads to friction and destruction while responding paves the way for reconciliation and peace. When controversies erupt over cartoons or films on the Prophet, I tell Muslims there is no image of the Prophet. So any cartoon or film depicting him will be fake. Why fight over a fake depiction? When Muslims react violently, they play into the hands of forces that want to incite the community and paint it as reactionary".<ref name="The Times of India"/>
== Personal life == He married Salma Yaqoob in 2016.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Yaqoob |first=Salma |interviewer-last=Spanner |interviewer-first=Huw |title=Just Being Honest |work=High Profiles |date=21 July 2016 |accessdate=16 October 2025 |url=https://highprofiles.info/interview/salma-yaqoob/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122211900/https://highprofiles.info/interview/salma-yaqoob/ |archive-date=22 January 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=General Election 2017: Brummie activist Salma Yaqoob to stand in Bradford West |work=I Am Birmingham |date=11 May 2017 |accessdate=16 October 2025 |url=https://iambirmingham.co.uk/2017/05/11/general-election-2017-brummie-activist-salma-yaqoob-stand-bradford-west/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227063213/https://iambirmingham.co.uk/2017/05/11/general-election-2017-brummie-activist-salma-yaqoob-stand-bradford-west/ |archive-date=27 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azmi, Waqar}} Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:Civil servants in the Cabinet Office Category:English Muslims Category:Indian emigrants to England Category:People from Azamgarh Category:Alumni of the University of Lancashire