Biography
Date of birth: 5 November 1975 in Oslo
Son of nail factory worker Abdul Qayyum Raja (1937–) and housewife Akhtar Nasim (1949–)
Parliamentary terms
Substitute Member of Parliament no. 1 for Akershus, 2009–2013, Liberal Party
Member of Parliament no. 10 for Akershus, 2013–2017, Liberal Party
Member of Parliament no. 9 for Akershus, 2017–2021, Liberal Party
Member of Parliament no. 9 for Akershus, 2021–2025, Liberal Party
Substitute periods
Government minister 24 January 2020–30 September 2021, Solveig Schytz served as substitute member of parliament
Government minister 1 October 2021–14 October 2021, Solveig Schytz served as substitute member of parliament
Membership of the Presidium
2017–2021
Fifth Vice President of the Storting, 7 October 2017–24 January 2020
Storting committees
2013–2017
Member, Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, 17 October 2013–30 September 2017
Member, Standing Committee on Transport and Communications, 17 October 2013–22 October 2013
Second vice chair, Standing Committee on Transport and Communications, 22 October 2013–30 September 2017
2017–2021
Substitute member, Election Committee, 7 October 2017–13 February 2018
Member, Enlarged Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, 12 October 2017–24 January 2020
Member, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, 12 October 2017–24 January 2020
Member, Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, 30 January 2018–24 January 2020
Member, Election Committee, 13 February 2018–24 January 2020
2021–2025
Member, Standing Committee on Education and Research, 19 October 2021–30 September 2025
Substitute member, Election Committee, 26 October 2021–30 September 2025
Parliamentary delegations
2013–2017
Delegate, UN General Assembly, 1 October 2015–30 September 2016
2017–2021
Member, Delegation for Relations with the European Parliament, 12 October 2017–24 January 2020
Substitute member, Delegation to the Inter-parliamentary conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), 24 October 2017–24 January 2020
Member, Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 13 February 2018–24 January 2020
2021–2025
Personal substitute member, Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 28 October 2021–30 September 2025
Membership of group steering committees
2017–2021
Vice chair, Liberal Party Group Steering Committee, 18 January 2018–24 January 2020
2021–2025
Whip, Liberal Party, 19 October 2021–30 September 2025
Government positions
Government minister, Ministry of Culture and Equality, 24 January 2020–14 October 2021
Education and professional experience
Education
Cand.jur. law degree, University of Oslo 1996–2001
Cand.mag. degree with intermediate course in criminology, University of Oslo 1999–2000
Specialisation in human rights, University of Southampton 2000
Master of Science, Psychology, University of Oxford 2003–2004
Professional
Teacher, study techniques and self-directed learning 1998–2001
Assistant tutor, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo 1999–2000
Trainee, Schjødt, Kvaale & co and Wikborg Rein law firms 2000–2002
Associate, Almestad law firm 2002–2005
Lawyer, Hestens og Dramer & co law firm 2005–2008
Chair, Immigration Appeals Board 2008–2012
Police lawyer, National Police Immigration Service 2011–2012
First Secretary, diplomat, Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi 2012–2013
Medals and awards, etc.
Norwegian Oxford stipend 2003
Man of the Year Award, African Society 2008
Fritt Ord Prize 2010
Appointments
Public appointments
Member, investigating committee, Centre against Ethnic Discrimination scheme 1997–1998
Member, Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities 1998–2002
Member, Oslo Crime Prevention Council 2002–2007
Member, Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, Oslo 2008–2012
Elected party positions
Vice chair, Akershus Liberal Party 2009–2011
Member, Liberal Party Central Executive Committee 2009–2013
First substitute, Liberal Party Central Board 2011–2013
Vice chair, Liberal Party since 2020
Elected positions in organisations
Vice chair, Pakistani Students Society 1997–1999
Chair, University of Oslo mentoring scheme 1998
Member, University of Oslo Student Parliament 1998–1999
Spokesperson, World Islamic Mission (mosque) 1999–2001
Member, Norwegian Bar Association Criminal Law Committee 2007–2008
Board member, European Movement Norway 2009–2012
Other administrative appointments
Non-executive director, Oxford Council on Good Governance 2003–2008
Chair, Minotenk minority policy thinktank 2009–2012
Publications
Magnussen, S., Wise, R.A., Raja, A.Q., Safer, M.A., Pawlenko, N. & Stridbeck, U.: "What judges know about eyewitness testimony: A comparison of Norwegian and US judges", in Psychology, Crime and Law, Routledge London 2008
Magnussen, S., Melinder, A., Stridbeck, U., Raja, A.Q.: "Beliefs about factors affecting the reliability of eyewitness testimony: A comparison of judges, jurors and the general public", in Law and Human Behaviour, American Psychological Association Washington 2008
Magnussen, S., Melinder, A., Stridbeck, U. and Raja, A.Q.: "Faktorer som påvirker påliteligheten av øyevitner: Hva vet dommere og jurymedlemmer?", in Lov and Rett, Universitetsforlaget Oslo 2008
Raja, Abid Q.: Talsmann, Aschehoug Oslo 2008
Raja, Abid Q.: Dialog. Om vold, undertrykkelse and ekstremisme, Cappelen Damm Oslo 2010