 |
| Islam Alijaj |
The Albanian Islam Alijaj suffers from cerebral palsy, but this fact has not prevented him from having an active life with clear goals. The 35-year-old Albanian politician wants his two children to grow up in a society in which their father is no longer perceived as inferior, but "Inclusion is still a long way off," he says.
Islami has recently been nominated for the important prize in Switzerland "Prix Courage 2021", a nomination which is accompanied by the motto "wants to empower people with disabilities".
1.7 million people in Switzerland live with some form of disability, 500,000 of them with severe disability. But only one of the 246 members of parliament is disabled. "Something is wrong here", says the Albanian with roots from Kosovo, writes the Swiss magazine "Beobachter".
In 2019 he ran for the National Council but failed for very few votes. Next year he wants to join the Zurich city council. "I combine all the characteristics that a successful politician should not have: physical and verbal disabilities, the background of migration, plus the name 'Islam'. A` no go` ", he says laughing. But these are exactly his strengths.