2022 Winner
NAZIR AFZAL
Birmingham-born lawyer who became the UK’s first Muslim Chief Prosecutor and an advocate for victims of abuse.
Nazir Afzal is one of the UK’s most famous legal brains – best-known for his tireless work on the Rochdale grooming case and as a pioneer in the field of law.
The 59-year-old personally overcame racism and prejudice to become a powerful advocate for vulnerable and marginalised communities. He has fought in favour of women’s rights and against forced marriage, female genital mutilation and so-called honour killings.
As Chief Crown Prosecutor in the North West of England he was at the forefront of a series of challenging and landmark cases, including the first prosecutions for honour killings and modern slavery.
He continues to advise organisations, including the Welsh government, on gender-based violence and is Chair of the Catholic Church’s new Safeguarding Regulator, Chair of Hopwood Hall College, Chair of the London Fire Brigade Culture Review, member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation and Patron of nine women-led charities working to support victims.
Despite facing personal and professional abuse, he says doing the right thing gives him the motivation to keep going.
As he says: “In 2006, I got a visit from Special Branch who told me my name was on a verified Al Qaeda death list. Then they told me that there was nothing they could do so I went home that evening and hugged my children close.
“But the next day I was back at work doing what I needed to do. In 2012, when I dealt with grooming gangs, I was on a far right death list. But if you’re getting it from both sides you are probably in the right place, so it wouldn’t stop me pursuing justice. There’s always a personal cost but you need to do the right thing.”