ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Ibrahim Dogus, a Kurdish entrepreneur in the United Kingdom, was officially named the mayor of Lambeth in a ceremony on Wednesday.
Dogus formerly served as deputy mayor of the south London borough to former mayor Councilor Christopher Wellbelove who he replaces.
“Today marks an important day for Kurds all across the world and the Greater Kurdistan,” Dogus told Kurdistan 24 on Wednesday ahead of the ceremony. “I am proud to be the first Kurdish mayor of Lambeth, adding to that proud history of diversity and progress this borough represents.”
In the past, he served as a Labour Party Councilor for the Lambeth London Borough Council representing the Bishop’s Ward. According to Dogus, the Labour Party, the UK’s second-largest party, is “a friend of the Kurds.”
“Today is a significant day because we, as Kurds, hope to achieve more support and representation here in the UK,” he stated.
“Our Kurdish population in the UK increases every day. We hope to have greater influence in Britain and further strengthen the friendship between the Greater Kurdistan and the UK. I believe we will be successful.”
Dogus vowed to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Lambeth and provide more services to them, adding he also hopes to become an MP in the UK Parliament in the future.
The Kurdish mayor, who also owns the Troia restaurant, is the founder of the UK-based thinktank Centre for Turkey Studies and the Center for Kurdish progress.
Last year, Dogus was given an award for his bravery, compassion, and front line assistance to police officers during the Westminster Bridge terror attack in 2017 by keeping his restaurant open to police officers.
(Additional reporting by Barzan Hassan)