Bader Sayeed

Bader Sayeed is a legislator and lawyer. Her leadership journey began in the year 1966 when she was elected as the President of the Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women (formerly known as the S.I.E.T Women’s College). Born to inspiring and socially concerned parents, Mr. Rasheed Ahmed Sayeed and Mrs. Azeema Sayeed, Sayeed comes from a progressive Muslim family based in Chennai. As a lawyer, Bader has appeared for bonded laborers, women in the unorganized sector, victims of custodial violence, juvenile children, prisoners’ rights, rape victims, and victims of domestic and dowry-related violence. As an activist, Sayeed filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the practice of triple talaq at the Madras High Court (2013). As a social worker, the founding of ROSHNI highlighted Bder’s commitment to the area of women’s education. She was appointed as the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Minorities Commission, as the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board (2002-2006) and as the Additional Advocate General, Government of Tamil Nadu (2005-2006). In the year 2006, Bader Syeed won elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.