Hanifa Soylu — an Uzbek in German politics
Interviews
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19 January
7951In recent years, leaders from diverse nationalities have risen to prominent positions in countries around the world. Iran, for example, is governed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, of Azerbaijani descent, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei also hails from a non-Persian background. Similarly, the United Kingdom was led by Rishi Sunak, an ethnic Indian, from 2022 to 2024, and the United States by African-American Barack Hussein Obama from 2009 to 2017.
This trend reflects the growing opportunity for individuals of various backgrounds to step into leadership roles and shape the future of their adopted countries. But what about the Uzbeks?
Would you believe that Uzbeks, too, are making strides in global politics? There are indeed Uzbeks who have gone abroad and risen to positions of influence. One such example is Hanifa Soylu, an Uzbek woman running for parliament in Hamburg, Germany, in the upcoming elections this March.
Hanifa’s journey began in the early 20th century, when her ancestors were forced to flee their homeland due to the Russian invasion, eventually settling in Afghanistan. Born and raised in Mazar-i-Sharif, she and her family later lived in Pakistan and Turkey before finally settling in Germany in the 1980s. Having spent over 40 years in Germany, Hanifa Soylu has earned her degree in law and is now running for parliament as a candidate of the ruling Social Democratic Party in Hamburg, with elections set for March 2, 2025.
In her campaign, Hanifa advocates for the prevention of domestic violence, the elimination of force, and the creation of new opportunities for minor refugees and migrant women—issues she has worked on extensively throughout her professional career. Proud of her Uzbek heritage, Hanifa also plans to foster stronger ties with Uzbekistan if elected to office.
For more insights into Hanifa Soylu’s inspiring story, watch the full interview on QALAMPIR.UZ’s YouTube channel.
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