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