11 Facts About Nazila Ghanea

Nazila Ghanea was born on August 1968 and is an Iranian-born British lawyer.

Nazila Ghanea is a professor of law at Oxford University and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Nazila Ghanea took her first degree at Keele University and she has master's degrees from Leeds University and Oxford University.

Nazila Ghanea returned to her alma mater to gain her doctorate.

Nazila Ghanea has spent three decades in academia including a year teaching in China.

Nazila Ghanea became the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief on 1 August 2022 when she succeeded Professor Ahmed Shaheed of the University of Essex.

Nazila Ghanea had been proposed for the role by the state of Oman and several NGOs.

Nazila Ghanea was chosen finally after short listing and interviews.

Nazila Ghanea said that she had been surprised that year by tensions in Leicester which some saw as Muslims versus Hindus, while others saw this as a simplification.

Nazila Ghanea had not been asked to get involved professionally but she was concerned at what had influenced a city to unrest - which she had seen as a beacon of religious tolerance.

Nazila Ghanea has been a member of the panel organised by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to assist OSCE nations with achieving religious freedoms.