Saida Begum

{{Short description|Norwegian politician (born 1987)}}

File:Saida_Begum_-_foto_Hans_Krisitan_Thorbjørnsen-7805.jpg

Saida Roshni Begum (born 23 May 1987) is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.

Her parents migrated from Pakistan to Norway in the 1970s. She was born at Aker Hospital and lived several places in Oslo, as well as in Lørenskog. Noone in her family was politically active, but Begum took membership in the Young Conservatives in 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/saida-begum-jeg-sa-veldig-mange-som-skulket/s/12-95-3423558546|title=Saida Begum: - Jeg så veldig mange som skulket|date=17 November 2018|author=Lilleås, Heidi Schei|work=Nettavisen|language=no|access-date=20 November 2023}} She also graduated with the cand.jur. degree from the University of Oslo.{{cite encyclopedia|year=|title=Saida Begum|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|editor=|publisher=|location=|url=http://www.snl.no/Saida_Begum|language=Norwegian|accessdate=20 November 2023}}

Begum was first elected to Oslo City council in 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.vartoslo.no/ntb-saida-begum-st-hanshaugen/hoyre-politiker-saida-begum-32-fra-st-hanshaugen-blir-statssekretaer/113320|title=Høyre-politiker Saida Begum (32) fra St. Hanshaugen blir statssekretær|author=Velle, Vegard|date=24 January 2020|work=Vårt Oslo|language=no|access-date=20 November 2023}} Following another re-election in 2015, she stood for 2019 Norwegian local elections as the Conservative Party's mayoral candidate in Oslo.{{cite news|url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/saida-_31_-blir-hoyres-ordforerkandidat-i-oslo-1.14284026|title=Hun skal hoppe etter Fabian: Saida Begum (31) innstilt som Høyres ordførerkandidat i Oslo|author=Fossen, Cato Husabø|authorlink=Cato Husabø Fossen|author2=Lydersen, Trond|date=8 November 2018|publisher=NRK|language=no|access-date=20 November 2023}} She had worked the years 2015 to 2019 as an adviser for the Conservative Party's parliamentary caucus. However, the Conservative Party did not win the 2019 election and Begum did not become mayor.

In January 2020, Begum was instead appointed State Secretary for Torbjørn Røe Isaksen in the Ministry of Labour.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.no/magasinet/portrettet/saida-begum/torbjorn-roe-isaksen/politikk/saida-begum-nar-folk-sier-at-rasisme-ikke-eksisterer-i-norge-er-det-bare-a-vise-til-kommentarfeltet/2-1-828372|title= Saida Begum: – Når folk sier at rasisme ikke eksisterer i Norge, er det bare å vise til kommentarfeltet|author=Lauritzen, Ellen Sofie|date=16 July 2020|work=DN-Magasinet|publisher=Dagens Næringsliv|language=no|access-date=20 November 2023}} She remained State Secretary until Solberg's Cabinet fell in October 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/om-regjeringa/tidligere-regjeringer-og-historie/sok-i-regjeringer-siden-1814/regjeringspolitiker/id2578016/?personId=1381|title=Saida Roshni Begum|publisher=Government.no|language=no|access-date=20 November 2023}} In April 2022 she announced that she would leave Oslo city council after the 2023 Norwegian local elections. She instead opted for a career in the law firm Sands.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/oslo/i/k6O7bQ/forrige-valg-var-hun-hoeyres-ordfoererkandidat-i-oslo-naa-gir-hun-seg-i-politikken|work=Aftenposten|title=Forrige valg var hun Høyres ordførerkandidat i Oslo. Nå gir hun seg i politikken|author=Kristiansen, Arnhild Aass|date=1 April 2022|language=no|access-date=20 November 2023}}