A multi-award-winning King’s Counsel, in March 2022, Sultana Tafadar became the first hijab-wearing criminal barrister to attain the rank of ‘Silk’. Tafadar is considered one of the foremost experts in counter terrorism and national security cases. She also has an extensive practice across human rights. criminal justice and public international law. Tafadar advises and acts for individuals, states, NGOs, multinational corporations and other national and international bodies, appearing in courts at all levels.

Tafadar holds a number of national and international human rights-related appointments, including Chair of the Bar Standards Board Taskforce on Religion & Belief; the King’s Counsel Appointments Selection Panel member; and the Advisory Board of Influencing Corridors of Power (ICOP), SOAS, University of London, Tafadar is a Council Member for JUSTICE; Member of Legal Expert Advisory Panel for Fair Trials International (LEAP); Special Advisor on Human Rights for the Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights; Member of the Detention Experience Community of Avocat Sans Frontieres (ASF); the Roster for Criminal Justice Sector Experts dealing with counter-terrorism, Organisation for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Tafadar previously worked at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International (AI) in the Africa Program; the Middle East Program; and the International Justice Project of the International Law Program. In 2023, Tafadar co-founded the Girls Human Rights Hub with her now 12-year-old daughter.

Tafadar is the winner of Barrister of the Year, Inspirational Women in Law Awards, 2022; Winner of the Professions Category, Asian Women of Achievement, 2021; HERoes Top 100 Women Future Leaders, 2021; finalist in BSN Lawyer of the Year (Chambers), UK Legal Diversity Awards, 2021; finalist in Outstanding Woman in Professional category sponsored by Baker McKenzie, Precious Awards 2021.