Aamer Anwar
| Aamer Anwar | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 December 1967 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Alma mater |
University of Glasgow University of Strathclyde University of Liverpool |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Aamer Anwar (born 30 December 1967) is a prominent Scottish lawyer of Pakistani background, and the current Rector of the University of Glasgow. He is noted for his left-wing political views and human rights campaigns. He campaigned on behalf of the family of murder victim Surjit Singh Chhokar. He was an active participant in the Stop the War Coalition, campaigned against the 31st G8 summit at Gleneagles and for the closure of the Dungavel Detention Centre for failed asylum seekers.
Anwar was born in England and moved to Scotland in 1986 to study mechanical engineering at the University of Glasgow for a future in the Royal Air Force. He became a student activist and led a campaign against alleged racism at the city's Dental Hospital. This eventually saw the introduction of anonymous marking across all faculties at the University.
He left engineering to study sociology and politics, and was still a student when, in 1991, he was arrested by police officers for illegally flyposting on Ashton Lane. During his arrest he was pushed to the ground, and had his teeth chipped. Anwar successfully took civil action against Strathclyde Police. In 1995, Sheriff Evans found that one officer had assaulted Anwar and that it appeared to be a racially motivated attack; Anwar was awarded £4,200 in compensation and the policeman was suspended.
Anwar became a solicitor in 2000 initially as part of a Glasgow-based partnership, before founding Aamer Anwar & Co, Solicitors & Notaries in 2006.
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