Dr Saleyha Ahsan

Dr Saleyha Ahsan

Name: Dr Saleyha Ahsan
Where: UK
What she does: Filmmaker, CEO and Creative Director
Impact: Freelance film maker who speaks out against injustices and human rights abuses
Website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/saleyha-ahsan
Nominated by: Abigail Sloan

Saleyha was the first Muslim woman to graduate from Sandhurst as a British Army Officer. She went on to serve in the peacekeeping force in Bosnia. She then trained as a doctor and has extensive experience in emergency medicine. She is also an award winning journalist. The majority of her work speaks out against injustices and human rights abuses around the world. She has focussed extensively on the use of secret evidence in theUnited Kingdom and has recently visited refugee camps in Libya, to which she will soon be returning.

Saleyha is one of the most passionate and vibrant people I have ever met. Her commitment and persistence is an inspiration to all around her. To be honest, I’m not sure when she sleeps! It is rare to meet someone who has made a huge contribution to the world through one profession, never mind three!! The fact she has undertaken an LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law this year shows she feels her learning is never complete and she is adding another tool (the law) to her belt to fight for what she believes in.