Aslam Ahsan
Encyclopedia
Mohammed Aslam Ahsan Chaudhary (born 15 March 1942) is a Pakistani Norwegian
politician for the Labour Party
.
Born in Punjab
, British India, he migrated to Sweden
in May 1971 and to Oslo, Norway in August the same year. He took a job in the industry, and became active in his trade union
. He eventually became involved in local politics, and was elected to serve in Lørenskog
municipal council in 1983, as one of the first Asian immigrants to Norway.
He has also been a member of Norway's Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities. He has become known nationwide as a debater in the public sphere
, and won the Fritt Ord Award
for freedom of expression in 2002. In 2009 he was awarded the HM The King's Medal of Merit
in Gold.
Norwegians of Pakistani descent
Pakistani Norwegians are Norwegians of Pakistani descent. First generation Pakistani Norwegians, who migrate from Pakistan, are distinguished from the mainstream in several demographic aspects, while second generation Pakistani Norwegians, who are born in Norway, are well-established in Norway and...
politician for the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
Born in Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
, British India, he migrated to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in May 1971 and to Oslo, Norway in August the same year. He took a job in the industry, and became active in his trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. He eventually became involved in local politics, and was elected to serve in Lørenskog
Lørenskog
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lørenskog. Lørenskog was separated from the municipality of Skedsmo on 1 January 1908.-Name:...
municipal council in 1983, as one of the first Asian immigrants to Norway.
He has also been a member of Norway's Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities. He has become known nationwide as a debater in the public sphere
Public sphere
The public sphere is an area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action...
, and won the Fritt Ord Award
Fritt Ord Award
The organization Fritt Ord awards two prizes to support freedom of speech; the Fritt Ord Award and the Fritt Ord Honorary Award .-Fritt Ord Award:These are the laureates of the Fritt Ord Award:*1976 : Johan Vogt*1977 : Henrik Groth...
for freedom of expression in 2002. In 2009 he was awarded the HM The King's Medal of Merit
HM The King's Medal of Merit
The King's Medal of Merit is a Norwegian award. It was instituted in 1908 to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art, science, business and public service. It is divided in two classes: gold and silver. The medal in gold is rewarded for extraordinary achievements of importance to the...
in Gold.