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Speakers Accumulated Bios


46th Annual ISNA Convention

Zahid Hussain Bukhari ......................... 25 


Shahid Buttar ........................................ 25 
Table of Contents  Sarah Cady ............................................ 26 
Muhammad Nur Abdullah ...................... 5  Mas’ood Cajee ...................................... 26 
Zerqa Abid .............................................. 5  André Carson ........................................ 26 
Salma Elkadi Abugideiri ......................... 6  Sami Catovic ......................................... 27 
Swami Agnivesh ..................................... 6  Robert Chase ......................................... 27 
Mansur Ahmad........................................ 7  Owaiz M. Dadabhoy ............................. 28 
Munjed Ahmad ....................................... 7  Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo......................... 28 
Sanjana Ahmad ....................................... 7  Mika’il DeVeaux .................................. 29 
Akbar Ahmed .......................................... 8  Susan Douglass ..................................... 29 
Nazir Ahmed ........................................... 8  Jean F. Duff ........................................... 30 
Safir Ahmed ............................................ 9  A. J. Durrani.......................................... 30 
Saquiba Ahmed ....................................... 9  Bob Edgar ............................................. 30 
Sufiya Ahmed ....................................... 10  Maha ElGenaidi .................................... 31 
Assad R. Akhter .................................... 11  Keith Ellison ......................................... 31 
Mehmet Aktas ....................................... 11  Mohamed Elsanousi .............................. 32 
Aisha Al-Adawiya ................................ 11  Gazi Erdem ........................................... 32 
Mohammad S. Alam ............................. 12  John Esposito ........................................ 33 
Abdalla Idris Ali ................................... 12  Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur ....................... 33 
Aman Ali ............................................... 12  Iman Faris ............................................. 33 
Saqib Ali ............................................... 13  Manzoor Ghori ...................................... 34 
Shariq Ali .............................................. 13  Ghulam Nabi Fai ................................... 34 
Wajahat Ali ........................................... 13  Maryam Kabeer Faye ............................ 35 
Yasir Al Mahdawy ................................ 14  Fatemeh Fakhraie .................................. 36 
Salam Al-Marayati ................................ 14  Jess Ghannam........................................ 36 
Iyad Alnachef ........................................ 15  Safiya Ghori .......................................... 36 
Zainab Alwani ....................................... 15  Linda Gustitus ....................................... 37 
Shahed Amanullah ................................ 15  Steve Gutow .......................................... 37 
Dr. Mona Amer ..................................... 16  Sara Hakeem ......................................... 37 
Patricia Anton ....................................... 16  Rabia Terri Harris ................................. 38 
Sadida Athaullah ................................... 17  Mohamed Hagmagid Ali....................... 38 
Moutasem Atiya .................................... 17  Asma Hanif ........................................... 39 
Azhar Azeez .......................................... 17  Mark Hanson ......................................... 39 
Salman Azman ...................................... 18  Waheedul Haque ................................... 40 
Ihsan Bagby .......................................... 18  Aziza Hasan .......................................... 40 
Mirza Yawar Baig ................................. 19  Maher Hathout ...................................... 40 
Owais Balti............................................ 19  Abida K. Haque .................................... 41 
Hazami Barmada ................................... 21  Najiyah Diana Helwani ......................... 41 
Jamal M. al-Barzinji.............................. 21  Leslie Hewitt ......................................... 42 
David Beckmann ................................... 22  Altaf Husain .......................................... 42 
Mirza AbuJafar Beg .............................. 22  Lubna Ismail ......................................... 42 
Mohamed Rida Beshir .......................... 22  Ameena Jandali ..................................... 43 
Isra Bhatty ............................................. 23  Rizwan Jaka .......................................... 43 
Yaser Birjas ........................................... 24  Shaik Jeelani ......................................... 44 
Kemal Bozkurt ...................................... 24  Jamillah Karim ...................................... 44 

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Mohammad Karim ................................ 44  Rayyan Najeeb ...................................... 65 


Merve Kavakci ...................................... 45  Husain Nagamia .................................... 65 
Yusuf Kavakci ...................................... 45  Pervez Nasim ........................................ 66 
Asma Khalid ......................................... 46  Ayman Nassar ....................................... 66 
Hena Khan ............................................ 46  Sayed A. Nassar .................................... 66 
M.J. Khan .............................................. 47  Daoud Nassimi ...................................... 67 
Muqtedar Khan ..................................... 47  Zarqa Nawaz ......................................... 67 
Zeba Khan ............................................. 48  Muhammad Ninowy ............................. 68 
Suhail Khan ........................................... 48  Ashraf Nubani ....................................... 68 
Farhana Khera ....................................... 49  Sulayman S. Nyang ............................... 68 
Riaz Khokher ........................................ 49  Serban Popescu ..................................... 69 
Richard L. Killmer ................................ 49  Yasir Qadhi ........................................... 69 
John Kiser ............................................. 50  Amjad Quadri........................................ 70 
Nsenga Knight ...................................... 51  Ajmel Quereshi ..................................... 71 
Kasim Kopuz ........................................ 51  Saifur Rahman ...................................... 71 
Radwan Kouatli .................................... 52  Zeyba Rahman ...................................... 71 
Murat Kose............................................ 52  Fatima Rahmatullah .............................. 72 
Alexander Kronemer ............................. 53  Hussein Rashid...................................... 72 
Ola Lanke .............................................. 53  Hafiz Rehman ....................................... 73 
Bruce Lustig .......................................... 53  Sabeeha Rehman ................................... 73 
Edina Lekovic ....................................... 54  Nadia Roumani ..................................... 74 
Mahmood A. Madani ............................ 54  Walter Ruby .......................................... 74 
Mokhtar Maghraoui .............................. 55  Agha Saeed ........................................... 75 
Johari Abdul Malik ............................... 55  Louay Safi ............................................. 75 
Sakil Malik ............................................ 55  Patricia Z. Salahuddin ........................... 75 
Mahmood Mamdani .............................. 56  Rashid Abdul-Salaam ........................... 76 
Salam S. Al-Marayati............................ 56  Monem Salam ....................................... 76 
Priscilla Martinez .................................. 57  Jihad F. Saleh ........................................ 77 
Father James Massa .............................. 57  Achmat Salie ......................................... 77 
Ingrid Mattson. ...................................... 58  Ako Abdul Samad ................................. 77 
Ali Al’amin Mazrui............................... 58  Corey Saylor ......................................... 78 
Bonita McGee ....................................... 58  Marc Schneier ....................................... 78 
Mohammed Mohiuddin ........................ 59  Beverly Schwartz .................................. 78 
Jack Moline ........................................... 59  Chris Seiple ........................................... 79 
Hadia Mubarak...................................... 60  George Selim ........................................ 79 
Mikal N. Nash ....................................... 60  Zakia Iman Shahbaz .............................. 80 
Ghulam N. Mir ...................................... 61  Gerry Serotta ......................................... 80 
Uzma Mirza .......................................... 61  Zulfiqar Ali Shah .................................. 81 
Asma Mirza........................................... 62  Ahmed Shaikh ....................................... 81 
Yaqub Mirza ......................................... 62  Zaid Shakir ............................................ 81 
Dalia Mogahed ...................................... 63  Sidney Rahim Sharif ............................. 82 
Haroon Moghul ..................................... 63  Zaki Sherif ............................................ 82 
Marriyam Moten ................................... 64  Osman A. Shinaishin ............................ 83 
Sultan Muhammad ................................ 64  Muzammil Siddiqi ................................ 84 
Abdul Malik Mujahid ........................... 64  Shazia Siddiqi ....................................... 84 
Nasreen C. Mustafa............................... 65  Abdulkader Sinno ................................. 84 

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Tabassum Siraj ...................................... 85 


Cathy Sultan .......................................... 85 
Samina F. Sundas .................................. 86 
Sayyid M. Syeed ................................... 86 
Mohammed T. Taher ............................ 86 
Mobin Tawakkul ................................... 87 
Asma Mobin-Uddin .............................. 87 
Omar Uddin .......................................... 87 
Warith Deen Umar ................................ 88 
Iqbal Unus ............................................. 88 
Burton L. Visotzky................................ 88 
Miroslav Volf ........................................ 89 
Siraj Wahhaj.......................................... 89 
Khurrum Wahid .................................... 90 
Rick Warren .......................................... 90 
Jim Winkler ........................................... 90 
Mohammed Yousuf .............................. 91 
HamzaYusuf ......................................... 91 
Yusuf Islam............................................ 92 
Safaa Zarzour ........................................ 92 

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Muhammad Nur Abdullah  Zerqa Abid 

Sheikh Mohammad Nur Abdullah, Imam


and director for the Islamic Foundation of Zerqa Abid is a social/political activist,
Greater St. Louis, came to the United States journalist, writer, blogger, editor, TV
from Sudan in 1978. He received his B.A. in producer/director, speaker, marketing
Sharia at the Islamic University, Medina and communication specialist, campaign maker,
a M.A. in Sharia at the Ummal Qura event manager/organizer and CEO of her
University, Makkah. He completed further business, ZAPS Technocrats Inc., based in
studies at the University of Chicago where the United States. She has successfully
he received an M.A. in Islamic Studies and organized international trade and consumer
is now a Ph.D. candidate. shows. Her consumer show, “Expo Juniors,”
was recognized as the first mega event and
Abdullah is past chairman of the ISNA Fiqh legendary expo for children in Pakistan. It
Council and has been a member of the Fiqh drew 800,000 people in three days to the
Council of North America since 1982. He is Expo Center, Karachi. Prior to running her
the principal for the Al Salaam Day School own business, Abid has worked at the
and member of the Shari'a Scholars American news giant, NBC News as News
Association of North America. Editor. She has also worked at ARY Digital
Network of Pakistan as the General Manager
Abdullah has authored several articles on of The City Channel.
family in Islam, marriage and divorce, and
the concept of Shura in Islam. He also works Zerqa Abid is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of
as a marriage counselor. North Carolina State University, where her
major was Mass Communication, TV
  production, and her minor was
Journalism. She received “Norma & Wally
  Ausley Merit Scholarship for being “The
Outstanding Student of Mass
Communications” in her junior year at the
 
college. Abid was also chosen as a young
woman leader to represent College of
Humanities of NCSU in the U.S. Senate and
the U.S. Congress in a conference organized
by National Organization of Woman, NOW.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

She is also a member of Golden Key brief guide for helping professionals entitled
International Society. What Islam Says About Domestic Violence.
In addition, she is associate producer of the
Abid is proud to accomplish all of the above video Garments for One Another: Ending
while strictly observing Islamic dress code Domestic Violence in Muslim Families.
including head scarf and face veil.
Since 2007, she has been part of Faith Trust
Salma Elkadi Abugideiri  Institute’s Leadership team, providing
training to clergy and faith communities on
issues related to domestic violence. She is
also a member of the Interfaith Coalition
against Domestic Violence, a national effort
with a focus on guiding policy and
legislation that supports domestic violence
survivors.
Salma Elkadi Abugideiri is a licensed
professional counselor in private practice in Swami Agnivesh 
Reston, VA. She received her master’s
degree in counseling from George Mason
University, and completed a post-master’s
certification program in marriage and family
therapy at Virginia Tech. She provides
individual and family therapy for a wide
range of problems, including mood
disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, abuse,
and cultural adjustment issues. She has
worked extensively with Middle Eastern and Swami Agnivesh, is a prominent Arya
Muslim families. Samaj scholar, social activist and a
champion for peace, harmony and interfaith
As co-Director of the Peaceful Families dialogue. He is the president of the World
Project, an organization dedicated to Council of Arya Samaj, an associate of the
educating Muslim community leaders and original "Arya Samaj", a Hindu reform
members about domestic violence, she movement founded by Swami Dayanand
provides educational workshops and Saraswati in 1875. He is the Chairperson of
develops resources related to domestic 'United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on
violence among Muslims. She has written a Contemporary forms of Slavery' and also the
chapter in Walking Together: Working with Chairperson of Bonded Labour Liberation
Women from Diverse Religious Traditions Front.
entitled “Working with Muslim women:
Understanding Religious and Cultural In 1977, he was elected Member of the
Issues,” as well as “Domestic Violence Legislative Assembly of the state of
among Muslims Seeking Mental Health Haryana, and became the State's Minister for
Counseling,” which is in the edited volume Education, 1979-1982. In 1981, while still a
Change from Within: Diverse Perspectives minister, he founded the Bonded Labour
on Domestic Violence in Muslim Liberation Front, which continues to fight
Communities. She has also co-authored a against bonded labour as a form of slavery

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

in India, especially in the quarries in and Munjed Ahmad 


around Delhi. He has been testifying before
the Working Group on Contemporary Forms
of Slavery at the U.N. Human Rights
Commission in Geneva.

Among Swami Agnivesh's immense


contributions is his championing of dialogue
and peace activities, the anti-caste
movement, liberation of bonded labour
activities, a movement against alcoholism,
and equal rights of women, such as their Munjed Ahmad received his law degree at
right to education and reading Indian the Catholic University of America
scriptures. Columbus School of Law in Washington
D.C. Mr. Ahmad is also the national Vice
Agnivesh is accepted as peace and harmony President of American Muslims for
pioneer by all religious communities such as Palestine and one of the organizations co-
Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, founders. He is also in the private pratice of
Bahai, Jewish etc. because of his efforts to law.
build an atmosphere of peace and harmony
in India. Sanjana Ahmad 
Mansur Ahmad 

Sanjana works on environmental issues in


Mansur Ahmad, BDS, PhD, is an Associate both her personal and professional life. She
Professor and Director of Radiology at the obtained her Masters in Public Policy with
University of Minnesota School of an environmental policy concentration at the
Dentistry. He was raised in India and University of Maryland and currently works
worked as a faculty member in a Medical in the DC-area on transportation and
College before coming to the United States domestic policy. Over the past year and a
for his graduate education. He is an author half, Sanjana has been working with a group
of 10 textbooks for weekend Islamic of "green Muslims" in the Washington, DC
schools. Dr. Ahmad's presentation will focus area to explore the Islamic basis for
on the negative external and internal environmental awareness and activism. The
influences on the Muslim youths of India, DC Green Muslims hope to encourage
and suggestions to counter the bleeding of dialogue and action around these issues to
the society. create a more sustainable future for us all

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

   

Akbar Ahmed   

Nazir Ahmed 

Ambassador Akbar Ahmed is currently the


Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies,
American University in Washington DC, the
First Distinguished Chair of Middle East and
Islamic Studies at the US Naval Academy, Lord Nazir Ahmed, Baron Ahmed (born
Annapolis, and a Nonresident Senior Fellow 1958) is a member of the House of Lords,
at the Brookings Institution. He has taught having become the United Kingdom's first
at Princeton, Harvard, and Cambridge Muslim life peer in 1998. Many of his
Universities and is considered “the world’s political activities relate to the Islamic
leading authority on contemporary Islam” community both in the UK and abroad.
by the BBC. He has advised General David
Petraeus, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Ahmed was born in Mirpur (Azad Kashmir,
and Secretary Michael Chertoff on Islam Pakistan) but soon after his birth his family
and foreign policy. He is regularly migrated to the UK, where he was brought
interviewed by CNN, CBS, BBC, and Fox up. He attended Spurley Hey
News and has appeared several times on the Comprehensive School, then Thomas
“Oprah Winfrey Show.” He is the author of Rotherham Sixth Form College. He studied
over a dozen award-winning books, Public Administration at Sheffield Hallam
including Discovering Islam, which was the University and joined the Labour Party
basis of the BBC six-part TV series called when he was 18 years old.
“Living Islam.” His books have been
translated into many languages, including In 1998 Ahmed was appointed to the House
Chinese and Indonesian. His most recent of Lords, becoming the first Muslim life
book is Journey into Islam and his current peer as Baron Ahmed, of Rotherham in the
project, “Journey into America,” is an County of South Yorkshire. Lord Ahmed
unprecedented study based in fieldwork of took his oath on the Qur'an. At the age of
Muslims in America. 40, he was also one of the youngest peers to
achieve this position. As a Muslim peer,
much of his activities relate to the Muslim
community, both at home and
internationally. Ahmed led one of the first
delegations on behalf of the British
Government on the Muslim pilgrimage of
the Hajj, to Saudi Arabia and has advocated

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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legislation against religious discrimination, teacher, Gillian Gibbons, allowed her class
international terrorism and forced to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Lord
marriages.[citation needed] Ahmed, from Britain's ruling Labour Party,
and Baroness Warsi, an opposition
At home, Ahmed speaks on wider equality Conservative, visited Khartoum and had a
issues, and has spoken several times on meeting with the President of Sudan.
issues of race, religion and gender. He is Following this the President pardoned Ms
seen as one of the leaders of the Muslim Gibbons and she was allowed to return to
community. the UK.

Born in the region, Ahmed has a personal


interest in seeing a peaceful resolve to the Safir Ahmed 
ongoing bloody dispute in Kashmir and
seeks international mediation to achieve this. Safir Ahmed has been the Executive
As well as being an active figure in the Director of Zaytuna since June, 2008 and
Indian Subcontinent, he has worked on the since 2005 has overseen the Publications
plight of Muslims around the world ranging division at Zaytuna where he helped edit
from the collapse of former Yugoslavia, to Shaykh Hamza Yusuf’s writings, including
the Chechens and Palestinians. He has been the The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi and
on many delegations to the Arab world, the Caesarean Moon Births as well as his
US, Eastern Europe, Africa, the former articles for Seasons Journal and other
states of the USSR and the Far East, meeting publications. Safir is also an independent
with heads of state to discuss their book editor and editorial consultant and has
respective problems and how he may be able been a journalist for more than 20 years. He
to assist them. has served on the boards of various non-
profits and was a Communications Director
Ahmed helps with various charitable causes for a U.S. Senate campaign in 2004. Among
and is on the board of several organizations the authors he has edited are Markos
from local groups such as his position as Moulitsas Zuniga of DailyKOs, George
President of South Yorkshire Victim Lakoff of UC-Berkeley and Glenn
Support, to international bodies such as his Greenwald of Salon magazine
board membership on the SAARC
Foundation.
 
Lord Ahmed was among the founders of
The World Forum, an organization set up to Saquiba Ahmed 
promote world peace in the after math of the
9/11 with an effort to build bridges of
understanding between The Muslim World Saquiba Ahmed is Connecting Cultures'
and the West by reviving a tradition of Vice President for Business Development.
Dialogue between people, cultures and Her work history spans beyond US
civilizations based on tolerance. boundaries. On international assignments,
working for the World Bank, she utilized her
In November 2007 Ahmed was involved in conflict resolution skills to negotiate and
a diplomatic effort to secure the release of mediate disputes between mission
Gillian Gibbons from custody in Sudan. The consultants and local project managers.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Some of her mediation efforts resulted in  


opening up lines of communications to
facilitate the implementation of an irrigation Sufiya Ahmed 
system that provided irrigation to over
40,000 people in eight villages.

As an HR Generalist for Corporate Human


Resources reporting to the Vice President of
Human Resources, she was primarily
responsible for managing programs and
events for diverse external partners, and
managing the vendor, communications, and
implementation of Sodexo’s nationwide Sufiya Ahmed set up her own company,
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) BIBI Publishing, to bring the Zahra series to
Program. the market which follows the adventures of
a young British Muslim girl. Sufiya’s
Within Sodexo she was a member of all the published novels include ‘Zahra’s First
network groups and is a founding members Term at the Khadija Academy’ and ‘Zahra’s
of the Pan Asian Network Group (PANG). Great Debate’, the former of which was
Saquiba also served as the Sodexho shortlisted in the Best Published Book
Relationship Manager for Working Mother Category at the 2008 Muslim Writers
Media, a four year relationship uniting Awards in London. Her new book, ‘Zahra’s
corporate America to create a safe haven for Trip to Misr’ is scheduled for release in
executive women of color, corporate leaders September 2009.
and diversity professionals to speak and
work openly on the most crucial issues; Sufiya set up the BIBI Foundation to
resulting in a benchmark of best practices encourage teenagers from deprived and
for America's companies to examine and diverse backgrounds to visit the Houses of
adopt. Parliament and learn more about the
democratic process. She is also part of
Saquiba is a Certified Trainer for Diversity Mosaic, a Muslim charity led by HRH
Awareness for Frontline Employees. A Prince Charles, and delivers her own
graduate of the University of Maryland, creative writing workshops in schools.
College Park, Saquiba’s research interests
lie within Industrial and Organizational Currently Sufiya is acting as a judge in the
Psychology, with a focus on cross cultural children’s category at the 2009 MWA with
communications. Penguin editors and she has just returned
from participating in the international Abu
Dhabi book fair, an event organised by the
ruling Sheikh to encourage Arab children to
the joys of reading.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  current President of the Congressional


Muslim Staff Association (CMSA).
   

Assad R. Akhter  Mehmet Aktas 

Mehmet Atkas is President of Religious


Counsel, United American Muslim
Association, Brooklyn NY.

Kemal Aktas was born in Corum, Turkey.


He received traditional Islamic education
from private teachers and institutions and
worked as an imam and Vaiz (official
religious speaker) in various cities in
Assad R. Akhter currently serves as Turkey. He moved to USA in 1980 and has
Legislative Director to Congressman Bill spend most of his time as and imam first at
Pascrell (D-NJ) where he oversees the the Turkish Society of Rochester, and then
Congressman’s entire legislative agenda and Islamic Cultural Center of Rochester,
manages his legislative staff. He is also Rochester, NY. He retired from active imam
tasked with coordinating the Congressman’s duties and periodically visits various
position on the House Ways & Means masajid to give speeches. He is married
Committee as well as staffing his with three children and lives in Boston MA.
assignment on the House Homeland  
Security Committee. He previously worked
 
for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-
TX) where he helped create the Aisha Al­Adawiya
Congressional Pakistan Caucus and was the
lead staffer for the House Science
Committee. He has also spent a substantive
amount of time working on political
campaigns throughout America. He
provided material assistance to and
campaigned with both Reps. Keith Ellison
(D-MN) and Andre Carson (D-IN) as they
became the first and second Muslim Aisha Al-Adawiya is the Founder and
Members of Congress in 2006 and 2008, Executive Director of Women In Islam Inc.,
respectively. In 2005, Assad worked an organization of Muslim women which
directly with the NJ AFL-CIO to organize focuses on human rights and social justice.
and mobilize over one million labor workers Ms. al-Adawiya organizes and participates
which led to the election of Jon Corzine (D- in conferences, symposia and other forums
NJ) as Governor in New Jersey and an on Islam, Gender Equity, Conflict
increase in the majority for Democrats in the Resolution, Cross-Cultural Understanding,
State Assembly. Apart from his official and represents Muslim women in United
legislative duties, Assad serves as the Nations forums as a Non-Governmental
Organization. She also coordinates Islamic

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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input for the Preservation of the Black  


Religious Heritage Documentation Project
of the Schomburg Center for Research in Abdalla Idris Ali 
Black Culture. Ms. Al-Adawiya serves on
numerous boards related to the interests of
the global Islamic community. She also
serves as a consultant to numerous interfaith
organizations and documentary projects on
the Muslim American experience. Ms. al-
Adawiya is a guest host and producer on
Tahrir, WBAI Pacifica Radio in New York
City.
Abdalla Idris Ali is a public speaker and
Ms. al-Adawiya specializes in developing fund-raiser, and has served as ISNA’s
educational forums on human rights and President from 1992-1997. Sheikh Abdalla
social justice, interfaith initiatives, cross- Idris co-organized the Canadian Islamic
cultural understanding, and peace-building. Banking conferences for 1996 and 1997. He
serves as a member on the Board of Trustees
Mohammad S. Alam  for the Islamic Teaching Center (ITC) and
North American Islamic Trust. He also is
on the Board of Advisors of the American
Muslim Council and past Board member of
the Council of Islamic Schools in North
America. As an ISNA School principal, he
developed and implemented Islamic and
Arabic Studies curricula for elementary and
junior high students. He has written various
Dr. Mohammad S. Alam is a Professor and articles in Islamic Horizons and is a member
Chair of the Electrical and Computer of the ATP Editorial Board. His expertise
Engineering Department at the University of is in the area of Islamic education and
South Alabama. He is a Fellow of the Islamic Schools in North America.
Optical Society of America (OSA), a Fellow
of the International Society for Optical
Engineering (SPIE), a Fellow of the Aman Ali 
Institution of Engineering and Technology
(IET, UK), a Fellow of the Institute of Aman Ali is a reporter for USA Today and a
Physics (IoP, UK). board member of the Muslim American
Journalists Association, a networking group
for Muslim journalists. He covers the
political scene in the New York City area
and is a former Capitol Hill reporter that was
on the campaign trail covering the 2008
Presidential Election. He is also a frequent
guest on many talk shows in the New York
City area offering his political insight.

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Saqib Ali  Shariq Ali 

Shariq Ali, LEED AP, EIT is a Mechanical


Saqib Ali is a State Delegate in the Engineer at URS Corporation, where he
Maryland House of Delegates, having been contributes to the engineering and design of
elected to represent the 39th District in the high performance HVAC (heating,
2006 elections. Ali is of Indian and Pakistani ventilation and air conditioning) and
descent and having elected both Ali and plumbing systems. Currently he is involved
Kumar P. Barve (for the 17th District), in designing health care, transit, and retail
“Maryland became the first state to send two facilities, and assessing energy conservation
South Asians to the state legislature”. This measures on new and existing buildings.
was seen as part of Asian Americans Recently Mr. Ali has been involved on
displaying “political clout beyond traditional volunteer projects such as Masjid planning,
strongholds in California and Hawaii.” Ali’s financing for minor Masjid renovations, and
election is also seen as evidence of another www.GotIslam.com.
American minority moving towards civic Mr. Ali is a graduate of the University of
empowerment by participating in the Michigan and a product of the Islamic
political process, as “He is the first Muslim community of greater Detroit. He currently
in the Maryland State legislature.” His lives with his wife in Dearborn Heights, MI,
election and that of Keith Ellison (D-MN) to holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering,
the United States Congress are viewed as and is pursuing post-graduate studies.
“part of a concerted march of Muslims into
civic and political life” in reaction to
“worries about civil liberties and Wajahat Ali 
immigration policy” that began after Sept.
11, 2001.

Wajahat Ali is a playwright, journalist,


humorist, blogger and Attorney at Law,
whose play, "The Domestic Crusaders
[www.domesticcrusaders.com], is the first

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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major play about the American Muslims


experience making its New York premiere In late 2007 he arrived in Albany, NY, and
on 9-11-09 at the world famous Nuyorican shortly thereafter he began volunteering
Theater. with USCRI Albany. He acted as a
translator and liaison for the other Iraqi
He was honored as an "An Influential families that were being resettled in Albany.
Muslim American Artist" by the State Finally in May 2008 he started working as
Department and invited to their Annual Reception and Placement Case Manager at
Ramadan dinner. He was also recently the agency. He values working at USCRI
honored as a "Muslim Leader of Tomorrow" Albany because it allows him to provide
for his journalism. He is the recipient of services to new comers to the U.S.
Muslim Public Affairs Council's prestigious
"Emerging Muslim American Artist" Award Salam Al­Marayati 
`of 2009.

He is an Associate Editor of Altmuslim.com,


the leading American Muslim online
magazine; and a contributing editor to the
award winning Illume Magazine He is a
contributor to the Washington Post, The
Guardian, and Huffington Post. His first
movie, "Ms. Judgments," was a finalist for
the LinkTV Muslim American Film Contest. Salam Al-Marayati serves as the Executive
His first short story, "Ramadan Blues," was Director of MPAC. For the past 16 years,
published in the anthology "Pow Wow" Salam has had the opportunity to speak to
published by Perseus/De Capo Press. His congregations at community-sponsored
blog, "Goatmilk: An Intellectual events, temples, synagogues, churches, high
Playground" (goatmilk.wordpress.com) is schools, and college campuses. He has
ranked in the top 7% of all political blogs written extensively on Islam, human rights,
and recently rated "Great" by blogged.com. democracy, Middle East politics, the Balkan
Crisis, and the Transcaucus conflict. His
articles and interviews have appeared on
such prominent newspapers as The Wall
Yasir Al Mahdawy  Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The
Christian Science Monitor, The LA Daily
Mr. Al Mahdawy was born in Iraq in March News, The Chicago Tribune, The San
of 1973 and grew up in Baghdad in the same Francisco Chronicle and USA Today. He
house his family lives in today. After has appeared on radio and TV talk shows,
completing his engineering degree from including The Dennis Miller Show, Tonight
Baghdad University College of Engineering, with Deborah Norville, Politically Incorrect,
he worked for the Japanese Embassy, the and has been featured on C-SPAN and NBC.
United Nations and a French NGO. After Salam has also been deeply involved in
June 2006, he fled Iraq and lived in Jordan interfaith activities. He served as co-chair of
for more than one year before being the Interfaith Coalition to Heal Los Angeles,
approved for resettlement in the United which formed as a result of the Los Angeles
States. uprising in the Summer of 1992. Salam also

14
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

works as an advisor to several political, civic include: Al Qazali and his Methodology in
and academic institutions seeking to Fiqh legislation, Aisha’s Commentaries and
understand the role of Islam and Muslims in Their Methodological Premises in Hadith
America and throughout the world. Sciences, What Islam Says about Domestic
Violence: A Guide for Helping Muslim
Families, and others. Currently, she teaches
Iyad Alnachef  Islamic and Arabic Studies along with the
Culture of Middle East at Northern Virginia
Community College NOVA and the School
of Advanced International Studies at Johns
Hopkins University. She has developed
courses in Arabic Studies examining the link
between Islamic Philosophy, language and
the culture at previous institutes. Ms. Alwani
also teaches Women and Family in Quran at
Iyad Alnachef earned his Masters in Youth GSISS. She is a Board Member on different
Development from Michigan State academic, educational, and social
University. Between January 1999 and organizations.
September 2005, Iyad worked as an Islamic
Studies/Arabic Teacher, youth leader, and Shahed Amanullah 
youth program director in several Islamic
Centers in Michigan and Ohio. During that
period, he organized about several youth
camps, events and programs in that area.

For the period between October 2005 and


August 2006, he worked with the National
Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of
America as a District Executive for
Powhatan District that served more than 80 Shahed Amanullah is an award-winning
scouting units. journalist and editor-in-chief of
altmuslim.com, an online newsmagazine
Iyad joined ISNA since August 2006 as the covering issues related to Islam in the West.
Director of the Youth Programming and Named by Islamica Magazine as one of
Services Department. “Ten Young Muslim Visionaries,” he writes
and speaks regularly about the challenges
and opportunities facing Islam in the West.
Zainab Alwani  His work and writings have been featured in
Newsweek, San Jose Mercury News, New
York Times, Washington Post, BBC News,
Zainab Alwani is a PhD candidate in Islamic National Public Radio, BeliefNet, Los
Studies. Her research interests have focused Angeles Times,
on Islamic studies (Fiqh & Usul al fiqh), and Christian Science Monitor, San Francisco
Family and Women's issues. She has Chronicle, and the Voice of America. His
developed Quranic models through various television appearances include “Nightline
courses toward building "Quranic family with Ted Koppel”, CNN Headline News, the
structure". A few of her publications
15
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

“Today Show”, and “Hannity & Colmes.” for Recovery and Community Health as the
sole recipient of the 2005-7 American
Shahed is also the founder of Halalfire Psychological Association’s (APA)
Media LLC, a network of Islamic-themed Minority Fellowship Program SAMHSA
websites with over 6 million annual visitors. postdoctorate award. She has gained
Along with altmuslim.com, signature widespread recognition for developing
properties include zabihah.com, the world’s cultural competence training curriculums for
largest database of Halal restaurants and social service providers working with
markets, salatomatic.com, an extensive list Muslims and Arabs. Her research focuses on
of reviewed mosques and schools in stress and mental health among Arab
Muslim-minority countries, Americans in the post 9/11 era, as well as a
unitedmuslims.org, a resource for civic Yale Child Study Center study of Arab
engagement, and halalapalooza.com, a Muslim youth identity. Dr. Amer is Editor-
comprehensive guide to Islamic e- in-Chief for the scientific Journal of Muslim
commerce. Mental Health and consults for state and
federal agencies. She was awarded the
Shahed has served as a board member of the prestigious APA Award for Distinguished
United Muslims of America, the Muslim Graduate Student in Professional
Public Service Network, and the Muslim Psychology for her work with Muslim and
Youth Camp of California. He is also a Arab Americans. She has been invited to
general partner in Zakat Community give keynote talks in the US, UK, and
Ventures, the first “venture philanthropy” Middle East, and her research has been
fund dedicated to promoting Islamic featured in international radio and print
charitable values. media including leading Arabic newspaper
Asharq Alawsat, German National Radio,
and a USA Today cover story.
Dr. Mona Amer 
 

Patricia Anton 

Dr. Mona Amer is an Assistant Professor at


The American University in Cairo and Originally from Medina, Ohio, Patricia
Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale Anton accepted Islam in 1997 as a student at
University School of Medicine. She earned Ohio State University, where she received
her doctorate in clinical psychology from the her BA in International Studies. Patricia was
University of Toledo, Ohio, followed by a awarded a Graduate Fellowship in Non-
postdoctoral fellowship at the Yale Program Profit Management and Governance through

16
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Indiana University, earned an MA in Islamic  


Studies from Cordoba University, and has
continued her graduate studies at George Moutasem Atiya 
Mason University’s Institute for Conflict
Analysis and Resolution. She has also
studied Arabic at Yarmouk University in
Jordan. Anton has worked for several
Muslim organizations including The Islamic
Society of North America, Islamic Relief,
the International Institute of Islamic
Thought, and Cordoba University. She has
also worked on contract with the United
Br. Moutasem Atiya, an IT professional and
States Institute of Peace, George Mason
Islamic activist, has been actively involved
University, and the Institute for Defense
in the Maryland and Metropolitan DC
Analysis. She has contributed to developing
communities through classes, speaking
trainings and manuals for “Say Peace: An
engagements, and Friday khutbahs on a
Islamic Model of Conflict Resolution,”
regular basis for the past 10 years. He has
Project L.I.G.H.T. (Learning Islamic
studied the Islamic Sciences from three of
Guidance on Human Tolerance), and the
the luminaries of our time, Shaykh Mohsen
Muslim-Christian Initiative on the Nuclear
An-Najjar, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui, and
Weapons Danger. Anton is co-founder of
Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya Al-
Medina Center in Bethesda, Maryland,
Ninowy. Br. Moutasem established the Al-
where she has served as board member. She
Madina Institute, which opened its doors in
has also served on the board of Asia Relief.
2008. As a mobile institution providing
higher learning to Muslim Americans, Al-
Sadida Athaullah  Madina Institute uses time tested methods to
ensure appropriate transmission of
knowledge and infuse its practical
application in daily lives. Br. Moutasem
currently resides in Columbia, MD with his
wife and son.

Azhar Azeez 
Sadida Athaullah, born and raised in
Hyderabad, India, is the literary executor of
the great 20th century Islamic scholar Dr.
Muhammad Hamidullah and Director of the
Muhammad Hamidullah Center. Athaullah
holds an Master's degree in Education and
works for the public school system of
western Maryland. Regularly involved in Azhar Azeez was born in 1971 in
peace and justice issues, she is a founding HYDERABAD, INDIA and has been living
member of the Muslim Peace Fellowship in US since 1995. He has bachelors in
and sits on its board. Finance from Osmania University and a

17
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Master’s degree in business administration groups within the firm. After graduating
(MBA) and currently is pursuing his PhD in from DePaul University School of Law, he
Islamic studies. For last 14 years he worked worked as an associate at a prominent
for major US corporations such as General Chicago corporate law firm. Mr. Azam then
Electric, American General Life and Capital set out to create a brand new firm focused
One. He is a member of ISNA Executive on the needs of small businesses and
Council (Central Zone Representative) since professionals, especially those in the South
2003 and is also the founder and current Asian community. Today Lakeshore Law
President of Islamic Association of Group LLP represents many prominent
Carrollton, Texas one of the large mosques physicians, small and medium-sized
in the suburbs of Dallas, TX. He was also a businesses in the Chicago area and across
founding member & past President of the country. Mr. Azam also serves as legal
Council on American Islamic Relations – advisor to several Muslim community non-
Dallas/ Fort Worth Chapter. He is a regular profit organizations and is on the board of
speaker and a fundraiser for various local, the Pakistani American Bar Association of
regional and national Islamic organizations. North America and the Downtown Islamic
He has made several media appearances and Center.
was interviewed by many local and national
T.V. stations and newspapers such as Ihsan Bagby 
affiliates of CBS, ABC, FOX, KDTN, NBC,
PBS KERA, CNN, Associated Press, USA
today, Dallas Morning news etc. He speaks
regularly on local & national radio programs
and has written for various newspapers and
magazines. He is the founder & moderator
of the weekly global e-mail newsletter
which goes out to over 15,000 subscribers
every week on issues related to Islam &
Muslims. He is married and has two kids Ihsan Bagby is currently the Associate
and currently resides in Dallas, TX. Professor Islamic Studies at the University
of Kentucky. He obtained his PhD from the
University of Michigan in Near Eastern
Salman Azman  Studies and his research for the last ten years
has focused on Muslim in America.

 
Salman Azam is one of the founders of the
Lakeshore Law Group LLP and is the
Managing Partner of the firm. He
coordinates the Corporate and Transactional

18
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

 
Mirza Yawar Baig  Owais Balti  

Owais Balti was born in Buffalo, NY. His


Founder and President of Yawar Baig and parents, Drs. Mohamad Ashraf and
Associates, International Speaker, Coach, Mubeena Balti, are members of the ISNA
Trainer and Facilitator specializing in Founder’s Committee and active leaders in
Leadership in Family Business, enabling the the Islamic Society of Niagara Frontier.
critical transition from being ‘Person-driven Owais is a graduate of Georgetown
to becoming Process-driven’ to create University, with a Bachelor’s degree in
Enduring Leadership. Yawar’s Enduring Finance. He served a term as the President
Leadership program shows business families of the Muslim Students Association during
how to grow, yet stay together, by applying his time at Georgetown. Owais works in the
case studies from both family businesses and area of Financial Planning and Analysis. He
multi-national corporations. Its experiential currently lives with his wife, Amnah
learning format enhances the application of Taufique, in Sterling, VA. Owais is an
inherent and learned knowledge and skills. active member of the ADAMS center and
Yawar also works as a life coach and mentor volunteers with the educational wing of
for prominent family businesses in India and ADAMS, the Qurtuba Institute, which
South Africa. He transcends cultural provides classes, lectures, and seminars to
boundaries by blending Eastern values with promote greater Islamic literacy and deeper
Western systems. Yawar brings to bear his respect for the traditional sciences of Islamic
varied experience in bauxite mining, tea and scholarship. Owais also participates in
rubber plantations, tourism marketing and ADAMS outreach through interfaith and
teaching which gives him the advantage of community service activities.
speaking from the perspective of a  
practitioner and not merely as a theorist.
Thanks to his openness, competence, value-
 
based professionalism and the ability to  
speak five languages, Yawar has instilled  
leadership and management fundamentals  
within many local, national and global  
organizations aimed at identifying and
 
nurturing leadership potential.
 
 

19
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   
Asad M. Ba­Yunus  Hatem Bazian 
 
 

Asad M. Ba-Yunus is an Associate at the


law firm of Lubell &Rosen. He is a native of Dr. Hatem Bazian, received his Ph.D. in
Cortland, New York, practices in the area of Philosophy and Islamic Studies from the
medical malpractice defense litigation. University of California, Berkeley.
While earning his Bachelor of Arts in Currently, Bazian is a senior lecturer in the
Political Science from State University of Departments of Near Eastern and Ethnic
New York at Binghamton, Asad worked as a Studies. Dr. Bazian between 2002-2007,
Level III Critical Care Paramedic, serving also served as an adjunct professor of law at
mainly rural and elderly patients through the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University
Broome Volunteer Emergency Squad. After of California, Berkeley. He teaches courses
graduating in 1997, he went on to earn his on Islamic Law and Society, Islam in
Juris Doctor from The American America: Communities and Institutions, De-
University's Washington College of Law in Constructing Islamophobia and Othering of
2000. While at American University, he was Islam, Religious Studies, and Middle
a Note & Comment Editor for the Eastern Studies. In addition to Berkeley, Dr.
Administrative Law Review, the American Bazian is a visiting Professor in Religious
Bar Association's official journal on Studies at Saint Mary's College of California
administrative law, participated in and adviser to the Religion, Politics and
interschool moot court competitions and Globalization Center at UC Berkeley as well
served as a judge in many competitions. as Academic Affairs Chair at Zaytuna
Asad was admitted to the Florida Bar in College of California. In Spring 2009, Dr.
2001 and the Washington D.C. Bar in 2002. Bazian founded at Berkeley the Center for
Asad has also been admitted to practice the Study and Documentation of
before the Supreme Court of the United Islamophobia, a research unit dedicated to
States. Prior to joining Lubell & Rosen, the systematic study of Othering Islam and
Asad was a defense attorney for Fertig & Muslims.
Gramling Law Partnership, the Mager Law
Group and worked as an Assistant State Dr. Bazian is known for being an organic
Attorney in Miami-Dade County. .  intellectual, a term used for academics
directly connecting their research to the
  people; rather than looking down from the
  ivory tower. Dr. Bazian's published book,
  Jerusalem in Islamic Consciousness, is a
  reflection of his desire to contribute to a
  better understanding of Muslim attachment
and informed political attitudes toward the

20
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Sacred City and Palestine in general. Chapter. She is involved in many


Currently, Dr. Bazian is working on two organizations in a volunteer capacity.
books, The Silicon Rush: Documenting
Muslim Communities in the the Silicon
Valley; and Virtual Internment: Muslims Jamal M. al­Barzinji 
and the War on Terrorism. Bazian most
recent publication is a chapter published in
France, “Islamophobie: dans le monde
moderne” and an entry to Oxford's Human
Rights Encyclopedia covering HR under the
Palestinian Authority. As an activist, Dr.
Bazian has played a significant role almost
in every human and civil rights movement in
the Bay Area, nationally and internationally
including the defense of Affirmative Action Dr. Jamal al-Barzinji is a founding member,
in California, American With Disabilities a Trustee and Vice President for Research &
Act, Anti-Apartheid, Anti-Globalization Publications of the International Institute of
Movement, and Central American Solidarity Islamic Thought (IIIT).
struggles.
He has over forty years of progressive
experience in development and leadership of
Hazami Barmada  diverse organizations (business, educational,
think-tanks, political and charitable), such as
Mar-Jac Poultry, Safa Trust, Amana Mutual
Funds, SAAR Foundation, Bank Islam
Malaysia, Dean of School of Islamic
Revealed Knowledge & Social Sciences of
International Islamic University Malaysia,
Nada International, and North American
Islamic Trust (NAIT).
Hazami Barmada is Executive Director for
the 2008 9/11 Unity Walk. Barmada He served as President of the Muslim
received a B.A. in Anthropology and Students Association of the United States &
Sociology from Rhodes College. Barmada is Canada, Member of (MSA), Majlis Al-
an independent contractor and consultant for Shura of The Islamic Society of North
several profit and non-for-profit America (ISNA). He is a founding member
organizations and companies with a focus on of International Charitable Foundation
public and intercultural relations, (KWT), the Association of Muslim Social
international communications, and Scientists (AMSS), and the Association of
organizational management. She is currently Muslim Scientists & Engineers (AMSE).
the Administrator for the Institute of Quality
of Life at Georgetown University. Barmada Dr. Barzinji served as advisor and consultant
is the President of the Progressive Muslim to various educational, charitable and
Network and was recently appointed as the professional organizations. He delivered
Executive Vice President of the Council for numerous lectures and wrote articles on
Advancement of Muslim Professionals, DC various topics on Islamic Thought, Banking,

21
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Islamic Movements, Current Affairs,  


Education and Islamic Presence in the U.S.
and Europe. Dr. Barzinji holds a Ph.D. and Mirza AbuJafar Beg 
M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, with a
minor in Management from Louisiana State
University, U.S.A. (1974), and a B.Sc. in
Chemical Engineering & Fuel Technology
from the University of Sheffield, England
(1962).

David Beckmann 
Moulana Mirza AbuJafar BegImam is Imam
and Khatib of the Jamaica, NY Muslim
Center and Principal of the center’s weekend
school. He is a former Imam and Khatib of
Masjidul Akbar Dhaka, Bangladesh,
Principal of Islamia Aliya Madrasa, Dhaka,
and founder of Anitur Rahman complex,
Barisal
David Beckmann is one of the foremost U.S.
advocates for hungry people. He has been Imam Beg’s Educational Background
president of Bread for the World for 15 includes Kamil from hadith, tafseer and
years, leading large-scale and successful fekaguru from Aliyah madrasa;Dowrah
campaigning to strengthen U.S. political hadith from dawandinesab; Quiraat from
commitment to overcoming hunger and Muminbari, Kumila; and Tafseer from
poverty. Before that, he served at the World Mukahtil Mukarama.
Bank for 15 years, overseeing large projects
and driving innovations to make the Bank
more effective in reducing poverty.
Mohamed Rida Beshir  
Mr. Beckmann earned degrees from Yale,
Christ Seminary, and the London School of
Dr. Mohamed Rida Beshir is the co-author
Economics, and five universities have
of four best-selling books on family issues
awarded him honorary doctorates. He is a
and parenting: “Parenting in the West,”
clergyman as well as an economist. He has
“Muslim Teens,” “Blissful Marriage,” and
written many books and articles, including:
“Parenting Skills” as well as other parenting
Transforming the Politics of Hunger and
books in Arabic. Several of his parenting
Grace at the table: Ending Hunger in God’s
books have been translated to many other
World.
languages. Dr. Beshir, who is teaching two
parenting courses with the Islamic American
University, is a regular contributor to the
family section of several Magazines and an
adviser for the Islam online website’s family
section. Dr. Beshir is the recipient of the

22
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

City of Ottawa Certificate of Appreciation with the Inner-city Muslim Action Network
for the year 2003 for his volunteer work in (IMAN). In the U.K., she works on
the area of Education as well as other City government outreach to Muslim and Asian
of Ottawa awards for valuable services to minority communities. Her research and
community children in year 2006. He is an work interests are in disability policy,
Engineer by profession, with over 30 years criminal law, criminal justice policy, social
of experience in Da’wa in North America. intervention for “at-risk” minority youth,
He has held various volunteer national/local and counter-terrorism strategy.
elected positions with MSA, ISNA, and
MAS. He is one of the founders of Human
Concern International. He is actively Iman Bibars
developing and delivering training programs
to various Muslim communities all over the
world. He is a regular speaker in ISNA,
ICNA, MSA, MAC and MAS conventions

Isra Bhatty 

Based in Cairo, Egypt, Dr. Iman Bibars is


launching Ashoka's program in the ARAB
WORLD. Iman has a BA and an MA in
Political Science from the American
University in Cairo (AUC), and a Ph.D. in
Development Studies from Sussex
University in the UK. Iman also joined the
Georgetown University Arab Studies MA
Program and was a Parvin Fellow at
Princeton. Iman is a regional expert with
Isra Bhatty was born in Leeds, England and
more then 22 years experience in the social
raised in northern Chicagoland. She
sector of the Arab World and the Africa
graduated from The University of Chicago
region. She has committed her life to work
in 2006 with majors in Economics and Near
with marginalized and voiceless groups,
Eastern Languages and Civilizations. She
such as female heads of households in the
was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a college
poorest slums of Egypt, street children,
junior and won several prizes for leadership,
street vendors and garbage collectors. She
scholarship, and service to the south-side
has worked with many international
community. Currently, she is an MPhil
agencies and NGOs, including UNICEF,
candidate in Evidence Based Social
Catholic Relief Services, CARE-Egypt,
Intervention at the University of Oxford,
GTZ and KFW. Iman is herself a social
where she is studying on a Rhodes
entrepreneur, and co-founded and chaired
Scholarship, and a law student at Yale Law
The Association for the Development and
School. Outside of school, Isra has pursued
Enhancement of Women (ADEW), an NGO
a range of interests. She has served as a
providing credit and legal aid for poor
multi-lingual translator for detainees at
women who head their households.
Guantánamo Bay and has worked closely

23
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Yaser Birjas  Kemal Bozkurt 

Shaykh Yaser Birjas is originally from the Kemal Bozkurt is Reference Librarian at
Holy Land and was born in Kuwait in 1970. Lawrance Public Library in MA. He has BS
He started his career in Electronic in Arabic Literature and Language from
Engineering in 1988 in the UAE, then in Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey, MS in
Madinah where he graduated as class Banking and Insurance from Marmara
Valedictorian with the highest honors from University, Istanbul Turkey and currently
The Islamic University of Madinah’s pursuing MS degree in Information Library
College of Shariah (Fiqh and Usool) in Science , Southern Connecticut State
1996. University, New Haven CT.
In 1997, after the war was over, he went to
work as a relief program aide under the Mr Bozkurt is the founder and publisher of
international umbrella of relief agencies to the Green Pages Muslim Business Directory
rebuild the war-torn Bosnia. Thereafter, and and Editor-in-Chief of habername.com, a
in the year 2000, he immigrated to the U.S. Turkish Daily Online Newspaper, reporter
Yaser Birjas is presently residing in El Paso, for AKRA FM radio station. He is also the
Texas. He was the Imam and religious president of kemalpasha.com an online
leader at The Islamic Center in El Paso since wholesale Turkish products business. He
his arrival until the end of 2007.
He is also an instructor at AlMaghrib He is a member of Zoning Board of City of
Institute, an organization that provides Lawrance, MA, State Delegate for
trademark double-weekend seminars in Democtatic Party, MA and School
Islamic studies. And a co-founder of Committee Candidate for City of Lawrance,
Practimate.com a world-class marriage MA.
training program for practical practicing
Muslims in the West. He travels around the He is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of
nation to teach academic classes in Islamic habername.com and mgreenpages.com,
studies as well as to speak on different social Boston, MA. He is married with three
subjects pertinent to the lives of Muslims in children and lives in Lawrance MA.
the West.
 

24
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  University of Karachi and Ph.D. in Political


Science from the University of Connecticut.
Zahid Hussain Bukhari 
Shahid Buttar 

Shahid Buttar, is Executive Director of the


Bill of Rights Defense Committee
(BORDC) and the People’s Campaign for
the Constitution (PCC), two organizations
aimed at raising awareness about the
impacts of national security policies on civil
Dr. Zahid H. Bukhari is currently working liberties and privacy interests. Previously he
as Director, American Muslim Studies served as Counsel to Muslim Advocates’
Program (AMSP) at the Prince Alwaleed Program to Combat Racial & Religious
Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Profiling. Buttar has long advocated in
Georgetown University, Washington, DC. defense of the Constitution.
From 1999-2004, he also worked as Director
Project MAPS: Muslims in American Public A 2003 graduate of Stanford Law School, he
Square, which examined the role and served as Professor Lawrence Lessig’s
contribution of the Muslim community to Constitutional Law Teaching Assistant and
the American public life. The Pew as Executive Editor of the Stanford
Charitable Trusts awarded a grant of $1.25 Environmental Law Journal. Based in
million for this purpose. In January, Dr. Washington, DC, from 2003 to 2008, Buttar
Bukhari was elected President of Islamic also served the American Constitution
Circle of North America (ICNA) for 2009- Society for Law & Policy as Associate
2010. He is also serving as Executive Director for Communications & Outreach.
Director of the Center for Islam and Public As a musician, Shahid has performed around
Policy (CIPP). Dr. Bukhari’s research the world for audiences as large as 50,000.
interests focused on religion and politics in His debut CD, Get Outta Your Chair, was
the United States and South Asia. He has a released in 2008 and features music from the
vast experience in all aspects of survey funk, blues, hip-hop, house, drum 'n bass,
research. From 1978-1983, he worked as and South Asian fusion traditions, including
executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Bumpin’ in My SUV and the Baghdad
Public Opinion (PIPO), Islamabad, a Blues.
member of Gallup International. He has
published and presented papers on Islam and
development, Muslim public opinion in the
US and other related topics in national and
international forums. He is also editor of two
volumes of the Project MAPS: Muslims’
Place in the American Public Square: Fears,
Hopes and Aspirations and Muslim in
America: Engaging Polity and Society in
Post 9/11 Era (forthcoming). Dr. Bukhari
has a Masters in Economics from the

25
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  Islamic-oriented site on the Internet.


Currently he is a contributing editor at
Sarah Cady  Fellowship magazine and a columnist for
altmuslim.com. He has written on interfaith
relations, current events, and policy issues
for various publications including the
Buddhist journal Turning Wheel,
Fellowship, counterpunch.org, Minaret,
Adbusters, Beliefnet.com, and Britain’s Q-
News. A board member of the Muslim
Peace Fellowship, Mas’ood also serves as a
senior member of the Muslim Public Affairs
Ms. Cady supports partner agencies in the Council, and has served on several other
Reception and Placement Program. Prior to boards including the National Council of the
working at USCRI HQ, Ms. Cady worked Fellowship of Reconciliation, the nation’s
with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in oldest and largest interfaith peace and justice
New York City as a Program Associate organization. He continues to advise various
supporting resettlement around the United community, media, and philanthropic
States. She has also worked as a refugee organizations in the United States and
Case Manager/Job Developer in USCRI’s abroad. Having visited 45 states and over 25
Albany field office and as an Americorps countries on four continents, Mas’ood now
member with the International Rescue resides in northern California with his wife
Committee in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. and two sons.
Cady received a dual B.A. in International
Relations and French Language, Literature André Carson 
and Culture from Syracuse University in
New York State. She studied in Strasbourg,
France and is proficient in French.

Mas’ood Cajee 

Congressman André Carson is a 34-year-old


native of Indianapolis, Indiana. Raised and
mentored by his grandmother,
Congresswoman Julia Carson, he learned
Mas’ood Cajee is a California-based dentist, from a young age the values of compassion,
journalist, and Muslim thought leader. In integrity and determination. He went on to
2003, he completed a Masters in Public obtain a Bachelors degree in Criminal
Health at the Harvard School of Public Justice Management from Concordia
Health and was a California Endowment University-Wisconsin and a Masters in
Scholar in Health Policy at Harvard Business Management from Indiana
University. As an undergraduate in 1993, Wesleyan University.
Mas’ood created cybermuslim, the first
26
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

 
For almost a full decade, André devoted
himself to law enforcement and the Robert Chase 
protection of Hoosiers across Indianapolis.
He first served as a Local Board
Investigative Officer for the Indiana State
Excise Police for nine years before being
detailed to the Indiana Department of
Homeland Security's Intelligence Fusion
Center in 2006. Congressman Carson
currently serves on the prestigious Financial
Services Committee, which oversees all
components of the nation's housing and In September 2007, The Rev. Robert Chase
financial services sectors including banking, was called to be the Founding Director of
insurance, real estate, public and assisted Intersections, a new justice-based global
housing, and securities. His ambitious initiative of the Collegiate Church of New
agenda includes working to create economic York. Previously, Chase served as Director
opportunity for Hoosiers, pushing forward of Communication for the 1.2 million
comprehensive affordable healthcare member United Church of Christ. At the
legislation, working to responsibly bring an United Church of Christ, he was responsible
end to the war in Iraq and to restore for the denomination's efforts in public
America’s role as a respected global leader. relations; marketing and education through
print, radio, video and emerging electronic
Sami Catovic  technologies. He also served as Executive
Director of the UCC's Office of
Sami Catovic is a NewJersey attorney; Phd Communication, Inc., the church's historic
Student at Temple University - Department media justice agency, was responsible for
of religion; Adjunct Professor - Temple the UCC's multiple web sites and served as
University, Department of Religion; Board publisher of United Church News with its
member of New Jersey Muslim Attorneys; circulation of more than 200,000.
Member of ISNA Executive Council - EZ Among other marketing efforts for the UCC,
Representative; Co-Chair of 2009 National he was a principle architect of the church's
Convention Program award winning "God is still speaking,"
identity campaign. Chase has served
congregations in New York and New Jersey
  and was founder and President of Creative
Connections in Media, a full-service
communications company. He is an award-
winning video producer with more than 100
productions to his credit and he has standing
as an ordained minister in the United Church
of Christ.

27
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  scholar whose career spans more than 30


years. Based in the Washington, DC area, he
Owaiz M. Dadabhoy  serves as a Shariah advisor to over 20 global
financial entities, including index providers,
banks, mutual funds, real estate funds,
leasing funds, institutional investors, home
finance providers, alternative asset managers
and others.
Shaykh Yusuf is the author of “A
Compendium of Legal Opinions on the
Operations of Islamic Banks”, the first
English reference on the fatawa issued by
Owaiz M. Dadabhoy, Investment Manager, Shariah boards. His three-volume
California, joined Saturna Capital in August publication has become the standard
of 2008. Raised in Southern California, he reference for Islamic financial institutions.
earned a BA in Business Administration In addition, Shaykh Yusuf wrote the
from California State University at introduction to “Islamic Bonds”, the 2003
Fullerton. Mr. Dadabhoy spent over 15 years book that introduced Sukuk and transformed
at Wells Fargo and was most recently a the world’s Islamic capital markets. His
District Manager in Long Beach. Prior to written work has appeared in journals and
that, he was Senior Sales Director for Wells newsletters and as chapters in books,
Fargo’s Wealth Management group in Los including Euromoney’s “Islamic Asset
Angeles where he managed six Sales Management”, “Islamic Retail Finance and
Directors and led a team of over 200 Islamic Finance: Innovation & Growth”. His
licensed bankers. Mr. Dadabhoy is active entries on the terminology of Islamic
with charitable and community activities, Finance appear in The Oxford Dictionary of
co-founding the UPLIFT Charitable Islam.
Corporation in 2006. He is married with two Shaykh Yusuf is also a special consultant,
children and enjoys spending time with his appointed by the Asian Development Bank
family in various outdoor activities. and the Islamic Development Bank in
Jeddah to the International Financial
Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo  Services Board (“IFSB”) on the subject of
Sukuk. IFSB is the international standard-
setting body of regulatory and supervisory
agencies that have a vested interest in
ensuring the soundness and stability of the
Islamic financial services industry, broadly
defined to include banking, capital markets
and insurance.

Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo is currently the


Chief Shariah Officer and Board Member at
Shariah Capital.
Shaykh Yusuf is a well-known and
respected Shariah advisor and Islamic
28
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

   

Mika’il DeVeaux   Susan Douglass 

Mika’il DeVaux has over 25 years of Susan Douglass has an M.A. in Arab Studies
experience working with men incarcerated from Georgetown University, a B.A. in
in New York State maximum-security History from the University of Rochester,
prisons and many who released following and is currently in the doctoral program at
long periods of confinement. DeVeaux George Mason University. During 2006, she
received a Bachelors of Business was Senior Researcher for the United
Administration degree from Bernard M. Nations Alliance of Civilizations. She
Baruch College (CUNY), a Masters of served as an Affiliated Scholar with the
Professional Studies degree from the New Council on Islamic Education for over a
York Theological Seminary, and a Masters decade, reviewing over a dozen commercial
of Arts degree from The College at New textbooks in development, reviewing state
Paltz (SUNY). DeVeaux has published standards, and developing instructional
papers in New Directions in Evaluation: a resources.
Publication of the American Evaluation Major publications include World Eras: Rise
Association, The Journal of Offender and Spread of Islam, 622-1500
Rehabilitation, and Crescent International. (Thompson/Gale, 2002), teaching resources
Other writings include You Are Almost for the Council on Islamic Education and the
There, a small narrative that focuses on National Center for History in the Schools, a
incarcerated Muslims, Imagine This, a children’s book Ramadan (Carolrhoda
chapbook of poems and has had several Books, 2002), Teaching About Religion in
other poems featured in various National and State Social Studies Standards
publications. He has presented papers and (Freedom Forum First Amendment Center
made presentations at a variety of venues and Council on Islamic Education, 2000),
including: the 45th and 46th Annual and many articles and book chapters. She
Meeting of the American Society of contributed to online teaching resources
Criminology, Muslim Alliance in North such as the IslamProject.org, the
America (1st and 2nd) Annual Conference, Smithsonian Freer Gallery teaching guide
NAACP Criminal Justice Conferences Arts of Islam, and the online curriculum
(Jamaica, New York), and others; as well as World History for Us All, and designed The
co-authoring a paper presented at the Annual Indian Ocean in World History online
Conference of the American Public Health resource. For the past three years she has
Association (1995). conducted the educational outreach program

29
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

at the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Coalition of New American Communities
Muslim Christian Understanding. (CONAC), which is a non-profit political
action group, established to improve and
Jean F. Duff  increase political awareness in "new
Americans". CONAC efforts have led to
thousands of new registered voters, over 70
Precincts Chairs in the Houston area, and
recently culminated in a historic first -- the
election of three Muslims to the Texas
SDEC. A.J. has been active in local Islamic
Community organizations for over 25 years
having held Shura (Board of Director)
Jean Duff is a seasoned management
positions with the Islamic Society of Greater
professional with broad experience in the
Houston and in Denver and New Orleans.
start-up of non-profit social enterprises, and
One of his primary areas of focus has been
for-profit businesses, and in the management
full-time Islamic Education, and he has been
of their growth. She is the Executive
instrumental in the creation and
Director of CIFA (Center for Interfaith
establishment of five Islamic schools. He
Action). She brings experience developing
has also led the efforts to establish Islamic
all aspects of service and policy
Boy Scouts troops in the local communities.
organizations, including building cross
Besides Islamic-related community
sector collaborations, program development
activities, A.J. has held leadership positions
and evaluation, strategic planning and
in mainstream civic and local community
marketing, public and community relations,
organizations like charitable institutions,
and fundraising. For the past 17 years she
school district committees, and homeowner
has worked exclusively with organizations
associations. He has a BS in Petroleum
serving the poor and advocating for social
Engineering from Milan, Italy and an MS
justice.
from Penn State Univ.
   
A. J. Durrani  Bob Edgar 

A.J. Durrani is a grassroots political activist


in the greater Houston area, and was
recently elected to the Texas State
Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) Rev. Dr. Robert William (Bob) Edgar is
as the male representative of the Asian president and CEO of Common Cause, a
American Democrats of Texas (AADT). He nonpartisan government watchdog
is presently Vice President of AADT and the organization, effective May 2007. He served
Primary Coordinator/Spokesperson for the as a Democratic member of the United

30
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

States House of Representatives from 1975 chair and Vice-chair of the Bay Area Hate
to 1987, representing the 7th district of Crimes Investigators Association
Pennsylvania. (BAHCIA). She is the recipient of
Prior to his position as president and CEO of numerous civil rights awards which include
Common Cause, he came from the post of the “Civil Rights Leadership Award” from
general secretary of the National Council of the California Association of Human
the Churches of Christ in the U.S. (NCC), Relations Organizations, the “Human
the leading U.S. organization in the Relations Award” from the Santa Clara
movement for Christian unity. n May 2007, County Human Relations office, and the
Bob Edgar was named president and CEO of "Citizen of the Year" Award from the Santa
Common Cause, a national nonpartisan, Clara County Board of Supervisors. Ms.
non-profit "citizens" lobby working to make ElGenaidi has spoken to hundreds of
government at all levels more honest, open schools, churches, police departments,
and accountable, and to connect citizens corporations and other public institutions,
with their democracy. has appeared on numerous television and
radio programs, and is author of seven
Bob arrived at Common Cause with a long training handbooks on outreach for
history of leadership and public service that American Muslims, as well as eight training
included 12 years in Congress. He was the modules for public institutions on
general secretary of the National Council of "developing cultural competency with the
the Churches of Christ in the USA for seven American Muslim community". Ms.
years immediately before arriving at ElGenaidi is currently ING's CEO.
Common Cause.
 
 
Keith Ellison 
Maha ElGenaidi 

Maha ElGenaidi is the Founder and


President of Islamic Networks Group (ING). Keith Ellison has represented the Fifth
She is a former commissioner on Lt. Congressional District of Minnesota in the
Governor Cruz Bustamante's "Commission U.S. House of Representatives since taking
for One California", Commissioner on Santa office on January 4, 2007. The Fifth
Clara County Human Relations Congressional District is the most vibrant
Commission, and Advisor to California's and ethnically diverse district in Minnesota
Commission on Police Officers Standards & with a rich history and traditions. The Fifth
Training (POST) for hate crimes and District includes the City of Minneapolis
cultural diversity training, and former Co- and the surrounding suburbs. Representative

31
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Ellison's philosophy is one of "generosity Human Rights (EHR) and the National
and inclusiveness." His roots as a Religious Campaign Against Torture
community activist and his message of (NRCAT).
inclusivity through democratic participation
resonates throughout the Fifth District. His Mohamed has contributed articles to the
priorities in Congress are: promoting peace, Encyclopedia of Philanthropy in America
prosperity for working families, and and the American Journal of Islamic Social
promoting civil and human rights. Science, and submitted an article to the
American Journal of Law and Society .

Mohamed Elsanousi  Mr. Elsanousi has appeared on Aljazeera, C-


Span, Al-hurah, Alarabia, and other media
outlets. He is proficient in Arabic and
English, and has basic fluency in Urdu.

Gazi Erdem 

Mr. Elsanousi is the Director of


Communications and Community Outreach
for ISNA. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in
Shariah and Law from the International
Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan; a
Master of Law from Indiana University in Dr. Gazi Erdem has a BS Degree in
Bloomington, IN; and a graduate diploma in Religious Studies from the Divinity Faculty
philanthropic studies from the Indiana of Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey. He
University Center on Philanthropy. holds Two MA degrees; first one is Islamic
History from Uludag University, Bursa
His responsibilities with ISNA include Turkey where he studied The Knowledge at
fostering interfaith relations, strengthening the era of Me’mun the Abbasid Caliph and
ISNA’s relationships with the Muslim the other degree is in Islamic Studies from
community in North America, and Selly Oak College of Birmingham
supervising ISNA’s projects with interfaith University, UK where he studies Orthodox
organizations and the federal government. Church under Ottoman Empire in the
Sixteenth Century. He completed his Ph.D
He serves as a national liaison and degree in Islamic History from Ankara
representative for ISNA at numerous inter- University, Ankara, Turkey where he
religious conventions and conferences. Mr. studied Christians under Ottoman Empire
Elsanousi also serves on the board of between 1856 and 1876.
directors and advisors for several interfaith After serving as an imam and preacher
organizations including the board of (Vaiz) in Bursa, Turkey for many years, he
governors of the Religious Communicators has hold for various managerial positions at
Council (RCC), the Interfaith Broadcasting the Religious Affairs of Turkey (Diyanet).
Commission (IBC), the Evangelicals for He has been the Attache for Religious

32
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Affairs to the NY Consulate General of Makers of Contemporary Islam (with John


Turkey. Voll); and Who Speaks for Islam: What a
Dr. Erdem is expert in many areas such as Billion Muslims Really Think: With Dalia
Islamic History, Islamic Cililizations, Mogahed.
Religious leadership, Interreligious Dialogue
in Islamic Sources and History, Ottoman
History and Christians under the Ottoman
Empire.  
John Esposito   Saleemah Abdul­Ghafur 

Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur is an author and


activist (faith-based initiatives and gender
equality in Islam). She works with Malaria
No More, a leading non-profit formed to
advance the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals by ending malaria-
related deaths by 2012. She also consults on
John Esposito is a University Professor as
a variety of interfaith projects and
well as Professor of Religion and
volunteerism efforts.
International Affairs and of Islamic Studies
at Georgetown University; Dr. Esposito is
Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed Iman Faris 
Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding.

A consultant to the Department of State as


well as corporations and the media
worldwide, Esposito specializes in Islam,
political Islam, and the impact of Islamic
movements from North Africa to Southeast
Asia. He is currently a member of the World
Economic Forum's Council of 100 Leaders
and a recipient of the American Academy of Mr. Iman M. Faris is a senior management
Religion's 2005 Martin E. Marty Award for consultant, with a career spanning multiple
the Public Understanding of Religion. industries from training and political
advocacy to technology and construction.
Esposito is Editor-in-Chief of the 4 volume Through his decades of experience in a
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic diversity of organizations and industries, he
World. His more than 30 books include: brings his clients a global awareness of best
Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam (a practices, change management principles,
Washington Post and Boston Globe best and proven coaching methods.
seller), What Everyone Needs to Know
About Islam, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Iman grew up in the North American
Reality?; Islam: The Straight Path; Islam Muslim community; his family was one of
and Politics; Islam and Democracy and the pioneers that helped establish the

33
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

community. From his formative years, He has been active in Muslim community in
Iman’s parents drove home a sense of North America since the early 70’s. He was
community and imparted to him and his the founding member of Muslim
siblings a rigorous sense of duty to give Community Association, Santa Clara, CA
back to society. There was always a and Islamic Society of East Bay, Fremont,
community project to help with and to learn CA.
from whether it was a relief effort, a youth
activity, or mosque building. Manzoor Ghori founded Ameen Housing
Cooperative Inc. in 1994. This organization
Today, Iman continues his involvement as a provides an alternative for home buyers
leader and organizer. He is extensively looking for ways to avoid interest-based
involved in youth work; managing youth bank loans.
camps, delivering lectures to high school
students and training youth leaders. He has He is the founder and board member of
also been involved with local projects, North American Islamic Shelter for the
including: annual festivals on the occasion Abused (NISA) that supports victims of
of Eid, as board member of several local domestic abuse.
organizations, including Abraar School,
host of the local Muslim radio show, and Manzoor was also on the advisory board of
coordinator and contributor to a variety of Council of American Islamic Relations
local, regional and national Muslim (CAIR), an advocacy group for justice and
community lectures, conferences, and mutual understanding and Islamic Network
working groups. Iman is supported by his Group (ING) which delivers educational
wife Zameela, daughter Ayesha, and the rest programs relating to Islam and Muslims.
of his community-minded family.
He is the founder & chairman of
Manzoor Ghori  Jahangirabad Education Trust, India. This
trust launched Jahangirabad Media Institute
in 2005 and is about to launch a university -
Jahangirabad Institute of Technology - in
2007.

Ghulam Nabi Fai 

Manzoor Ghori is the founder and chairman


of the Indian Muslim Relief & Charities
(IMRC). IMRC has been working since
1982 to provide education, humanitarian and
health care services to the orphans and the
needy in India. IMRC also provides medical Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai is the Executive
and emergency aid during natural disasters Director of the Washington-based Kashmiri
and man made disasters such as riots. American Council /Kashmir Center. He is
the founding chairman of the San Francisco

34
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

based Global Peace Forum and the Sun and many other foreign policy journals
Chairman London-based Justice Foundation. in the United States and around the world.
Dr. Fai is also the Member of the Board of
Director of Istanbul-based the Union of the He has been living in exile since August
NGOs of the Islamic World. 1980 for his political beliefs. He is married
and has two children.
He addressed the 46th thru 61st Sessions of
the United Nations Commission on Human  
Rights (UNCHR) at Geneva; and also
participated in the 41st thru 57th Sessions of Maryam Kabeer Faye 
the United Nations Sub - Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection
of Minorities at Geneva. He attended the 1st,
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th sessions of the United
Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in
2006 & 2007. He was invited to attend the
3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Summit of the
Head of the States of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference in January 1981 in Sheikha Maryam Kabeer Faye was guided
Makkah, Saudi Arabia; December 1992 in from a young age to make the journey in
Dakar, Senegal; in December 1994 in search of Truth. At twelve, she was given a
Casablanca, Morocco; in December 1997 in scroll with a painting of an ancient man
Tehran, Iran; in November 2000 in Doha, walking through mountains, upon which,
Qatar; and in October, 2003 in Putrajaya, were the words: SEEK AND THE TRUTH
Malaysia respectively. He addressed the SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.
preliminary session at the Centennial From that moment on, her life became a
Conference of Parliament of the World's journey in search of the liberating Truth.
Religions in Chicago in August 1993. He Born Jewish, she embraced Islam in El
participated in the 42nd Session of the Khalil, ten minutes away from the burial
United Nations Commission on the Status of place of the Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) at the
Women in New York in March 1998. He hands of an ancient Sufi Sheikh. Since then,
addressed the 14th International Conference she has studied with Sufi Masters
on Conflict Resolution in St. Petersburg, intensively around the world, on a journey
Russia in May 2006. He also addressed the of transformation culminating in West
Fourth International Conference on Global Africa.
Good in Honolulu, Hawaii in June 2006. Her book, JOURNEY THROUGH TEN
THOUSAND VEILS, The Alchemy of
Dr. Fai has been a leading spokesman for Transformation on the Sufi Path, which
the Kashmir cause for over three decades documents both the inner and outer journey,
and has traveled to over forty countries is a revealing social commentary, dispelling
lecturing on the subject. His articles many stereotypes such as the proposition,
appeared in The New York Times, The that women are inevitably oppressed in
Washington Post, The Washington Times, Islam. On the contrary, it is by entering into
Chicago tribune, Wall Street Journal, the heart of Islam that the author was
Financial Times, Plain Dealer, Baltimore liberated, elevated, and guided to realize the
true purpose of her existence.

35
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Sheikha Maryam Kabeer Faye is a teacher, Adjunct Professor of Ethnic Studies at San
speaker and writer on Islam and spirituality. Francisco State University. He is a
She travels extensively throughout the Psychoanalyst and practices in San
world, building bridges of light, knowledge, Francisco and the East Bay.
and understanding.
Dr. Ghannam specializes in working with
  chronic illness, including chronic pain and
cancer. He also works and does research in
Fatemeh Fakhraie  the area of Global Health and Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Ghannam is
also a Qualified Medical Examiner (QME)
for the State of California.

 Safiya Ghori 

Fatemeh Fakhraie is an editor, writer, and Safiya is currently the Muslim Public
blogger who writes about issues related to Affairs Council Program Director in the
Muslims, feminism, race, and politics in Washington DC office. She earned a joint
several print and online outlets, including Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in May
Racialicious, ReligionDispatches, and Bitch 2006 from the University of Arkansas.
magazine. She founded and currently serves
as editor of Muslimah Media Watch, a Safiya clerked for the Arkansas Attorney
website dedicated to analyzing General in the Public Protection Division
representations of Muslim women in global where she focused on fraud and
media. She is also an associate editor of the discrimination cases. As an Equal Justice
new online magazine Altmuslimah. Works Fellow she worked at the Tahirih
Justice Center in Falls Church, VA where
Jess Ghannam  she researched and administered VAWA
(Violence Against Women Act) and asylum
cases for Muslim women who were victims
of domestic violence.

While completing her M.A., Safiya taught


Introduction to Comparative Politics at the
University of Arkansas for two years. Safiya
was also the student editor of the Journal of
Islamic Law and Culture for two years. She
has studied and worked in many countries
Dr. Jess Ghannam is Clinical Professor of including India, Morocco and Russia. Safiya
Psychiatry and Global Health Sciences at the is fluent in Hindi and Urdu and was born in
University of California, San Francisco and Little Rock, Arkansas.
36
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Republicans and Democrats. He also


organized the pro-Israel lobby's efforts in six
Linda Gustitus  southwestern states and helped create
chapters in nearly 40 cities.

Gutow went on to become the founding


executive director of the National Jewish
Democratic Council, where he led national
groups in formulating strategies to maintain
First Amendment religious freedoms.
Following his ordination, Gutow became the
first full-time rabbi at the Reconstructionist
Linda Gustitus serves as President of the Minyan of St. Louis where he served as the
National Religious Campaign against St. Louis Rabbinical Association
torture. Linda is the past board chair of the representative to the Jewish Community
River Road Unitarian Universalist Relations Council of St. Louis.
Congregation and lives in Washington, DC.
She is the founder of the Washington
Region Religious Campaign Against Torture
Sara Hakeem 
and is an attorney.

Steve Gutow 

Sara Hakeem has recently matriculated from


Teach for America – Chicago’s 2007 corps.
Rabbi Steve Gutow is Executive Director of For the past two years, she has taught 7th
the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. After grade Language Arts at Gary Elementary
working for nearly 30 years as an attorney School in Chicago. She received her
and in Jewish and political activities, Gutow Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics
focused his career on his faith and from the University of Texas at Austin in
community and attended the May 2007. This fall, she will begin a PhD
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where program in Comparative Literature at the
he received his ordination in 2003. Gutow, University of Michigan Ann Arbor.
who spent more than a decade practicing
law in Texas, served as chair of the Dallas
Jewish Community Relations Council and
then went on to serve as the founding
regional director of the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee's Southwest
Region, where he forged alliances with

37
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

   

Rabia Terri Harris  Mohamed Hagmagid Ali 

Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali is the Vice


President of the Islamic Society of North
Rabia Terri Harris is an essayist, editor, America (ISNA) and also serves as the
peace activist, public intellectual, practicing executive director of the All Dulles Area
chaplain, freelance theologian, sometime Muslim Society (ADAMS) in Sterling,
translator, and aspiring servant of Allah. She Virginia. He was born in Sudan, the son of a
founded the Muslim Peace Fellowship in leading Islamic Scholar and the Mufti of
1994 and serves as its Executive Director. Sudan. Imam Magid studied at the hand of
Harris received her Bachelor’s degree from his father and other notable scholars, gaining
Princeton University in the field of Religion, ijaza in several disciplines, including
her Master’s from Columbia University in Ghazali's Ihya-Uloom-al-Deen. Imam
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, and Magid is also well known as an effective
holds a Graduate Certificate in Islamic communicator to our youth and for work
Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary. After with other organizations and interfaith
two decades of general spiritual studies, dialogue. Imam Magid is also well known
Harris has spent the last fifteen years for his counseling and family counseling
concentrating on the theory and practice of expertise. His other Islamic activities and
Islamic nonviolence. She is presently responsibilities include: East Zone
organizing the Muslim "house" of a tripartite Representative on ISNA Executive Council
Abrahamic peace community centered from 2001 to present; Chair, Fairfax (VA)
around an organic gardening project at the Faith Communities in Action; Member,
Stony Point Conference Center in Stony Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan
Point, NY. Washington Assembly; Member of the
Arab, Muslim Sikh Advisory Committee to
the FBI Washington Field Office; Board,
Fairfax Youth Partnership.

38
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  providing free blood pressure screenings in


community centers for the elderly.
 
 
Asma Hanif 
Mark Hanson 

Mark S. Hanson is the third, and current,


She has been a practicing Muslim for over Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical
25 years, graduated from Howard Lutheran Church in America. In 2003,
University, and the Medical University of Hanson was elected President of the
South Carolina. She is a Certified Nurse Lutheran World Federation, a role which he
Midwife, Naturopathic Physician, Clinical serves concurrently with his role as ELCA
Herbologist and Natural Childbirth Presiding Bishop. He serves on the
Instructor. She teaches workshops on executive council on the executive board of
“How To Prevent Breast Cancer Through the National Council of Churches of Christ
Diet and Self-Breast Exams”, “Fertility in the U.S.A. Hanson is author of Faithful
Awareness – How To Achieve or Avoid Yet Changing: The Church in Challenging
Pregnancy”, “Maintaining Vaginal Health Times (Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis:
Naturally”, as well as authored a rape 2002). In 2007 Hanson was reelected on the
prevention pamphlet entitled, “What A second ballot, thus will become during this
Woman Doesn’t Know Can Hurt Her”. In term the longest-serving Presiding Bishop in
1995, she established Al-Nisaa, Wholistic the ELCA's history. (The ELCA's first
Health, Education and Social Services Presiding Bishop, Herbert W. Chilstrom,
Center, a faith-based practice, in order to served two 4-year terms.)
provide health services for underserved and
uninsured women and children.
Sister Asma Hanif is presently operating a
holistic health center, teaching at Coppin
State University, providing, and organizing
volunteer health services in public schools,
providing health services to the homeless, to
women in shelters, to those in group homes,
and to those in foster care, as well as
organizing community based outreach
programs which include, adolescent health
services/AIDS prevention program,
performing physicals to the mentally and
physically challenged - allowing them to be
able to participate in the Special Olympics,

39
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

levels. New Ground doesn t shy away from


discussing the tough topics such as, identity,
gender, pluralism and Israel/Palestine.
Waheedul Haque  Dialogue sessions are based on the premise
that honest communication forges
meaningful relationships; from these grow
camaraderie and genuine friendship.
Aziza also coordinates inter-faith relations
for MPAC by working with religious
leadership in Southern California in the
areas of social justice, community education
and outreach, and youth engagement. She
has led numerous workshops for
international scholar forums, at conferences,
university/college campuses, civic and
Waheedul Haque, MD is a Professor of religious groups on inter-faith dialogue,
Psychiatry at the University of Texas community organizing, and youth leadership
Medical School at Galveston, TX. training. Aziza has given various speeches
to audiences across the country that included
He graduated from Dow Medical College, introductions to Islam, forgiveness and
Karachi, Pakistan . He has Postgraduate peace in Islamic tradition, and conflict
training at the St Louis University. resolution in Muslim communities.

He has approximately 25 publications and  


abstracts, various presentations at national
and international meetings. Maher Hathout 
Aziza Hasan 

Maher Hathout is a leading spokesperson for


the American Muslim community, is a
Aziza Co-Directs NewGround: A Muslim- retired physician best known for his tireless
Jewish Partnership for Change. The program commitment to public service. He is an
is a joint endeavor between the Muslim international figure who is highly regarded
Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the as a positive voice of Islam offering a
Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA) and unique and valuable perspective on national
brings members of both faith communities and international issues involving Muslims.
together for frank, substantive dialogue. Among the numerous offices he holds, Dr.
Facilitated conversations, explore issues at Hathout is MPAC's Senior Advisor. He is
the personal, local, national and global also a Charter Member of the Pacific

40
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Council on International Policy, the western She then moved with her family to USA in
partner of the Council on Foreign Relations, 1979, and attained the rank of full Professor
and sits on the Board of Directors of the at The University of Texas Medical School
Interfaith Alliance. Dr. Hathout has been at Galveston, TX. She was Director of
invited to Capitol Hill and the State Anatomic Pathology for several years, and
Department several times to address a then moved to The Methodist Hospital at
variety of topics such as "Islam and U.S. Houston. Currently she is Professor and
Policy," "Islamic Democracy," "Emerging Attending Pathologist at The Methodist
Trends in Islamic Movements," and "the Hospital, Houston, TX.
Future of the Middle East." He has traveled
to Australia, Egypt, Kuwait, Malaysia, Dr. Haque has more than 100 peer-reviewed
Pakistan, and South Africa to lecture on papers and presentations, Co-Edited 5 books
Islam and Muslims. Dr. Hathout has written on Pulmonary Pathology, and contributed
extensively on Islam, human rights, approximately 50 book chapters on
democracy, Middle East politics, and Pulmonary Pathology in these texts. She is
Bosnia. His articles and interviews have actively involved with resident teaching and
appeared in such prominent newspapers as research.
The Los Angeles Times, The New York
Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Dr. Haque has been a member of IMANA
Christian Science Monitor. He appears for the past 20 years. Currently she is Vice
frequently on national television and radio President of IMANA. She has been
talk shows. Treasurer and Secretary of IMANA from
2006-2008. Before that she has served as
the Chair of IMANA Bylaws committee.
Abida K. Haque 
Najiyah Diana Helwani 

Abida K. Haque, MD is Professor of


Pathology at Cornell Weill Medical School, Najiyah Diana Helwani is a home-grown
New York, and Attending Pathologist at the Kansas girl who feels blessed to be Muslim
Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX and of Midwestern heritage. Readers of her
She graduated from Osmania Medical novels, poems and short stories will be
College, Hyderabad, India, and underwent delighted to see how well the two value
postgraduate training in Obstetrics & systems compliment each other. Currently
Gynecology in Hyderabad, India. Dr. at work on Sophia’s second adventure,
Haque emigrated to Canada, and had Najiyah invites readers to share their time
postgraduate training in Pathology at the travel wish lists on her website -
Ottawa Medical College, Ottawa, Canada. http://najiyahhelwani.wordpress.com.

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integration of immigrant and refugee


Najiyah lives in Damascus, Syria, where she families, and especially Muslim adolescents,
teaches English at Yarmouk University and in the United States. Dr. Husain is a former
is collaborating on writing the history of two-term national president of the Muslim
Kansas City’s Muslims and Arabs with her Students Association (MSA), a current
husband Bassam. Her six children remind executive committee member of the Muslim
her what is important in life, and she is also Alliance in North America, a faculty
blessed to have a wonderful co-wife and member of COMPASS - the state of the art
three co-kids in Damascus. management training program of MSA
National, chair of the Leadership
Leslie Hewitt  Development Committee of the Islamic
Leslie Hewitt was raised in New York City Society of North America (ISNA) and the
and studied at the Cooper Union for the Peaceful Families Project - dedicated to the
Advancement of Science and Art (2000), the prevention of domestic violence.
Yale School of Art (2004) and at New York
University as a Clark Fellow for Lubna Ismail 
Africana/Cultural Studies (2001-02). She
was included in the 2008 Whitney Biennial.
Recent and forthcoming exhibitions also
include The High Museum in Atlanta, GA;
Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; The
Contemporary Art Museum in Houston, TX;
Artists Space in New York, NY; Sculpture
Center in New York, NY; Project Row
Houses in Houston, TX; The Wadsworth
Athenaeum in Hartford, CT, LAXART in
Los Angeles, CA, D’Amelio Terras in New Lubna Ismail, founder and president of
York; Arndt & Partner in Zurich, Connecting Cultures, Inc., is a training
Switzerland and Thomas Dane in London, specialist with over fifteen years of
England. Additionally Hewitt has received a experience in the areas of cross-cultural
2008 Art Matters Grant and a 2009-2010 communication, cultural competency, Arab
Radcliffe Fellowship Residency at Harvard and American cultures, Islamic awareness
University. and religious diversity. She is the author of
“Doing Business in the Middle East and
Altaf Husain  North Africa” and “Finding Diversity.” She
is frequently used as an expert by national
media and major international news
programs and recently received press in
Associated Press, The Washington Post,
BBC World News and PBS’ Religion and
Ethics NewsSelected as a Peace Fellow for
Seeds of Peace and a Malone Fellow in
Middle East and Islamic Studies by the
 
National Council for U.S. and Arab
Altaf Husain is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, Relations, Luby participated in a study visit
and his research interests include the to Saudi Arabia. She has been selected to

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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present at Iraqi Reconstruction conferences, Rizwan Jaka 


the Arabian Society for Human Resource
Management conference in Bahrain and the
Society for Human Resources’ Workplace
Diversity and annual conference as a
professional on the cutting edge of emerging
cultural and religious diversity issues and
Islamic awareness. Luby has been providing
training for hundreds of law enforcement
and military officers on Arab and Muslim Rizwan O. Jaka Mr. Jaka's community
Americans and on Iraq and Iraqi cultural involvement includes: Board Member of
considerations. ADAMS(June 2008- May 2009); Past
President of ADAMS(2002-2008); Past Vice
  President of ADAMS(2000-2002); Chair of
the Board of the Interfaith Conference of
Ameena Jandali   Metropolitan Washington, Cub/Boy Scout
Chartered Organizational
Ameena Jandali is a founding member of Representative(2004-Current); Member of
Islamic Networks Group where she works as Goose Creek District(Loudoun County) Boy
Content Development Director and Scouts of America Committee(200 A
volunteers as long time speaker and trainer. National Convention 2009(Washington 6-
Through ING she has delivered hundreds of current); Board Member, Islamic Society of
presentations in schools, colleges, North America(ISNA)(2008-Current); ISN
universities, churches, and other venues on DC) Steering Committee Chair(2009);
Islam and related subjects, and has appeared Chair of DC Area Eid Committee(1997-
on numerous television and radio programs. Current); CCMO Election Committee
Ameena is an editor of ING training Chair(2003-2007); ISNA National
handbooks on outreach for American Convention 2002(Washington DC) Steering
Muslims, as well as author and editor of Committee Chair(2002); ISNA Youth
training modules for public institutions on Strategic Planning Committee(2004); ISNA
developing cultural competency with the East Zone Conference Steering Committee
American Muslim community. She currently Chair(2006 and 2007); ISNA Election
team teaches a class on Islam at San Committee(2005-2008); Ashburn Soccer
Francisco City College. She received her Club Coach(2003-2005); Dulles little
M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from the League Baseball Manager/Coach(2004-
University of California, Berkeley, and B.A. 2008); University of Texas Student
in History from the University of Illinois. Government Representative(1992); Citizens
Affairs Committee Co-Chair, University of
Texas Student Government(1993); Board
Member, of University of Texas, Texas
Student Publications(1995); Editorial
Columnist, University of Texas Daily
Texan(50,000 circulation -1994/1995). Mr.
Jaka graduated with Bachelors of Science in
Computer Science from University of Texas
at Austin in 1995, and presently works as a

43
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Manager of Technology Sales Consulting in presented her research to several scholarly


the Technology Industry. communities including Harvard and
Princeton. She lectures frequently within
  Muslim communities. In her spare time, she
contributes to Azizah, an American Muslim
Shaik Jeelani  women’s magazine. Jamillah is originally
from Atlanta, GA where she was raised in
an active Muslim community in association
with Imam W.D. Mohammed.

Mohammad Karim 

Dr. Shaik Jeelani is professor of Mechanical


Engineering, Vice President for Research
and Sponsored Programs, Director of Center
for Advanced Materials at Tuskegee Mohammad Karim is Vice President for
University, Tuskegee, AL, and Director of Research of the Old Dominion University.
Ph.D. Program in Materials Science and He is North American Editor of Optics and
Engineering at Tuskegee University Laser Technology, an Associate Editor of
IEEE Transactions of Education, a Member
of the Editorial Board of Microwave and
Jamillah Karim Optical Technology Letters and of World
Journal of Modeling and Simulation. He has
served as guest editor of 16 technical journal
issues. Karim is author of 15 text books and
over 325 research papers. He is an elected
fellow of the Optical Society of America,
the Institute of Physics, the Society of
Photo-Instrumentation Engineers, the
Institution of Engineering & Technology,
Jamillah Karim is Assistant Professor in and Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.
religion at Spelman College. She obtained
her Ph.D. in Islamic Studies at Duke Mohammad Karim serves on the boards of
University. She specializes in Islam in North American Bangladeshi Islamic
America, women and Islam, and race and Community (NABIC) and Virginia
immigration. She is author of the book Coalition for Community and Justice
American Muslim Women: Negotiating (VCCJ); and has served in the past on the
Race, Class, and Gender within the Ummah, boards of Center for Christian, Jewish, and
which explores relations between African Muslim Understanding in New York;
American and South Asian immigrant Dayton Islamic School, Inc., in Ohio;
Muslims in the United States. Karim has Islamic Council of Ohio; Islamic Education

44
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Foundation of Knoxville in Tennessee; and Persian and forthcoming in English,


National Conference of Christians and Jews French and Italian.
in Ohio; and Avicenna Academy in Bronx.
 
 
Yusuf Kavakci 
Merve Kavakci 

Dr. Merve Kavakci is a Lecturer of


International Affairs at George Washington
University. She is a consultant for US
Congress Commission on Security and Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakci was born on June
Cooperation in Europe and a columnist for 22, 1938 in Hendek, Sakarya, Turkey. At an
Turkish daily Vakit newspaper. Prior to her early age (8-9 years) he accomplished
academic career she served as the head of memorizing whole Qur'an (Hifz al-Qur'an),
foreign affairs of Welfare-Virtue Party’s graduated from Hasircilar Qur'anic School
Women’s Commission. Kavakci was elected (Adapazari) with a training in Tajwid,
to the Turkish Parliament, the Grand Qira'ah, Arabic (Sarf and Nahw), Tafsir,
National Assembly of Turkey in 1999. Hadih, Fiqh, and allied Islamic Sciences. He
However she was prevented from serving passed national Exams for Waiz (Preacher
her term by the secular fundamentalists due and lecturer in Islamic Sciences) and Mufti
to her headscarf. (ordained and authorized to give Fatwa and
religious verdict in Islamic field) and
She took her case to European Court of qualified for those jobs. He worked as
Human Rights and won in 2007. Muadhdhin (Professional caller to prayer,
Kavakci holds a Ph. D in political science Hirka-i Sharif Mosque), Imam (Kara Ahmed
from Howard University, an MPA from Pasha Mosque in Topkapi), and Waiz in the
Harvard University where she was governorships Fatih and Beyoglu in
recognized as Edward Mason Fellow and a Istanbul.
Bachelor of Science in Computer
Engineering from University of Texas at Dr. Kavakci received a bachelor's degrees in
Dallas. Law from The College of Law of Istanbul
University and also in Islamic Studies from
She is hafiz-al Qur’an. Kavakci sits at the the Institute of Higher Islamic Studies, got
Editorial Board of academic journal, his Ph.D. in Islamic History and Culture
Mediterranean Quarterly. She is the author from Faculty of Arts, Istanbul University.
of five books among which are Basortusuz After working as Assistant Professor and as
Demokrasi (Turkish), translated to Arabic Associate Professor in the Institute of

45
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Islamic Research, Istanbul University, he  


helped to establish the first college of
Islamic Studies in modern Turkey. The Hena Khan 
College of Islamic Studies is now a part of
Ataturk University, Erzurum where Dr.
Kavakci worked as senior faculty. He
chaired Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh and other
departments and got full professorship in
Islamic Law and worked as Dean of the
College. His professorship in Islamic Law
was the first such position in Turkey after
the fall of the Ottoman Empire. He was
educated in the traditional Ottoman way of Hena Khan is a Pakistani-American writer
Islamic Studies as well as in modern who lives in Rockville, MD with her
methods of teaching in today's universities. husband and two sons. She is the author of
nine children’s books for Scholastic Book
He is a board certified attorney in Turkey Clubs, including several titles from the
and practiced Law in Libya, Iraq, Saudi popular Spy University series. Night of the
Arabia and attended numerous International Moon, published by Chronicle Books, is her
Conferences on Islam. He was involved in first picture book, and her first book on a
the activities of the Islamic Conference and Muslim theme. Hena was moved to write the
was in charge of the Muslim Minority book by a desire for Muslim-American
students sponsored by Islamic Development children, including her own, to identify with
Bank in Turkey. the story of Yasmeen and her family as they
celebrate a very special time of the year—
Asma Khalid   Ramadan. She also hoped to share some of
the cultural traditions of Ramadan and Eid
Asma Khalid is an aspiring international with people from other backgrounds, and to
correspondent. She is a Reporter for the foster understanding of the Muslim-
National Public Radio, National desk. She American community. Night of the Moon
was born and raised around Chicago, but has has received very positive reviews from the
spent the past few years studying in and industry, including a starred review from
exploring parts of Europe and Asia. Asma Booklist, and it was selected to be a Parents’
recently graduated from the University of Choice Approved Book.
Cambridge with an M.Phil (don't ask her to
explain what that means) in Middle
Easters/Islamic Studies.

Though most of her journalism experience


stems from print, she's increasingly
fascinated with radio and its power to
convey people's emotions in a way that's
physically impossible in other types of
media.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

M.J. Khan    

Muqtedar Khan 

MJ Khan is a living example of the


American Dream. Earning two Bachelor of Dr. Muqtedar Khan is Associate Professor in
Science Degrees in Physics, Mathematics the Department of Political Science and
and Engineering from the Universities of International Relations at the University of
Sind and Karachi, Pakistan; he went on to Delaware. He is also the Director of the
earn two Masters Degrees, a Master of Islamic Studies Program. He earned his
Science in Civil Engineering from the Ph.D. in International Relations, Political
University of Illinois, and a Masters of Philosophy, and Islamic Political Thought,
Business Administration from Rice from Georgetown University in May 2000.
University.
Councilman Khan was elected to Houston Dr. Khan is a Fellow with the Institute for
City Council, District F in December 2003. Social Policy and Understanding. He was a
He currently serves on several local boards Senior Nonresident Fellow with the
as well as seven City of Houston committees Brookings Institution [2003-2008] and a
including the International Liaison and Fellow of the Alwaleed Center at
Protocol Committee and the Flooding and Georgetown University [2006-2007]. He has
Drainage Committee – both of which he been the President, Vice President and
chairs. General Secretary of the Association of
Known for his leadership in the community, Muslim Social Scientists.
Council Member Khan has been honored by
the City of Houston and other prestigious He is the author of American Muslims:
organizations. In April of 2007, USCIS-U.S. Bridging Faith and Freedom (Amana, 2002),
Department of State honored Council Jihad for Jerusalem: Identity and Strategy in
Member Khan with the Outstanding International Relations (Praeger, 2004),
American by Choice Award in Washington, Islamic Democratic Discourse (Lexington
D.C. Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Books, 2006) and Debating Moderate Islam:
Department of State (DOS), gave the The Geopolitics of Islam and the West
keynote address to the recipients. In 2008, (University of Utah Press, 2007).
Council member Khan received the Asian
American Leadership Award from Asia Dr. Khan frequently comments on BBC,
Society Texas Center and the Leadership CNN International, FOX and VOA TV,
Award for Outstanding Community Service Bridges TV, NPR and other radio and TV
from the Islamic Society of North America networks. His political commentaries appear
(ISNA). regularly in newspapers in over 20
47
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

countries. He has lectured in North encouraged her to explore and appreciate her
America, East Asia, Middle East and own.
Europe. Dr. Khan is from Hyderabad in
India. He is married to Reshma and has a Suhail Khan 
son Rumi, and a daughter Ruhi.
Suhail A. Khan is the Senior Fellow for
Christian-Muslim Understanding at the
Zeba Khan  Institute for Global Engagement. He is a
Washington, DC based attorney and has
previously held many government
positions. Khan served as Policy Director
and Press Secretary for U.S. Congressman
Tom Campbell (R-CA) where he worked
closely on a variety of legislative initiatives,
including religious freedom. More recently,
Khan served as a senior political appointee
Zeba Khan is Founder and Director of with the Bush administration. He served in
Muslims Americans For Obama, 2008. Born the White House Office of Public Liaison
and raised in Ohio by civically minded assisting in the President's outreach to
Indian-Muslim immigrants, she learned various faith communities. Khan also
early on that giving back to her community served as Assistant to the Secretary for
was her duty as an American and as a Policy under U.S. Secretary Mary Peters at
Muslim – whether that was going door-to- the U.S. Department of Transportation.
door with her father collecting money for While at the Department of Transportation,
the homeless in her city or pitching in with Khan was awarded the Secretary's Team
an interfaith Habitat-for-Humanity home Award in 2005 and the Gold Medal for
with her mother. Her parents, as progressive Outstanding Achievement in 2007.
as they were religious, sent her to a Jewish Khan serves on the boards of the American
day school for nine years, where she learned Conservative Union, the Islamic Free
about Judaism how to speak Hebrew. On the Market Institute, the Muslim Public Service
weekends, she attended Sunday school at Network, and the Indian American
her local mosque, learning Arabic and about Republican Council. He has spoken at the
Islam. Her parents made sure that she knew Conservative Political Action Conference
the differences between Islam and Judaism, (CPAC), the Council for National Policy
explaining the Islamic perspective on every (CNP), the Harbour League, and the
topic she was taught at school. At the same National Press Club. He has written opinion
time, they were ever careful to explain the pieces for various publications including the
respect Muslims should have for their Washington Post/Newsweek Forum On
Abrahamic brothers and sisters in faith. She Faith.
truly believes that her own adherence to He was born in Boulder, Colorado to parents
Islam as an adult is in part credited to her who emigrated to the United States from
religious Jewish friends from her youth who southern India. Khan is the oldest of five
welcomed her into their homes and children, grew up in California, earned his
community and shared with her the joy and high school diploma from St. Lawrence
spiritual fulfillment they felt from practicing Academy, a private Catholic college
their faith. Their commitment to their faith, preparatory school in Santa Clara, in 1987.

48
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

He earned a B.A. in political science from Ms. Khera received her B.A. with honors in
University of California at Berkeley in 1991 political science and economics from
and a J.D. from University of Iowa in 1995. Wellesley College in 1991 and her J.D. from
Cornell Law School in 1994. At Wellesley,
she served as president of the student body
Farhana Khera  and co-founded the first Muslim students
organization, al-Muslimat ("The Muslim
Women"). At Cornell, and was an editor
with the Cornell Journal of Law and Public
Policy.

Riaz Khokher 

Farhana Khera is the first Executive Director


of Muslim Advocates and the National
Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML).
Prior to joining Muslim Advocates and
NAML in 2005, Ms. Khera was Counsel to
Ambassador Riaz Khokher is considered
the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee,
one of the most seasoned and experienced
Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil
diplomat of Pakistan. He was the former
Rights, and Property Rights. In the Senate,
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan serving from
she worked for six years directly for Senator
June 2002 to February 2005. Ambassador
Russell D. Feingold (D-WI), and was the
Khokher also served as Pakistan's
Senator's lead staff member in developing
ambassador to India, the United States and
anti-racial profiling legislation and
China before taking the top post of foreign
organizing subcommittee hearings on racial
ministry.
profiling.
Riaz Khoker and the Indian ambassador to
Prior to her service with the Senate Judiciary
the United States were both interviewed by
Committee, Ms. Khera was an associate
Michael Moore to highlight the fact that
with Hogan & Hartson, specializing in
both countries have levels of extreme
commercial and administrative litigation.
poverty yet spend 60% or more of their
She also worked with Ross, Dixon &
budgets on defense related assets and
Masback, serving as the lead associate on
program which in turn will become obsolete
several pro bono employment discrimination
anyway
cases, which resulted in the firm being
honored with the Outstanding Achievement
Award by the Washington Lawyers' Richard L. Killmer 
Committee for Civil Rights and Urban
Affairs.
Reverend Richard L. Killmer, a Presbyterian
minister, is the Executive Director of the
National Religious Campaign Against
49
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Torture – an interfaith organization of over as a Visiting Fellow at Princeton


250 religious organizations committed to Theological Seminary from 1985-1988. Mr.
ending U.S.-sponsored torture. He was Killmer has written many articles and
appointed to that position on May 2007. resources for publication and co-authored
Previously, he had served as the program two books.
director of the Churches Center for
Theology and Public Policy located at John Kiser 
Wesley Theological Seminary in
Washington, DC. He served there from June
2002 to May 2007. While in that position, he
founded the Greater Washington Interfaith
Power and Light and co-founded the
Muslim-Christian Initiative on the Nuclear
Weapons Danger.

From 1996 to May 2002, Mr. Killmer was


the director of Environmental Justice and John Kiser’s books have a contrarian flavor:
director of the Economic Justice and Profiles of entrepreneurial scientists
Domestic Hunger Program Ministry of the (Communist Entrepreneurs: Unknown
National Council of the Churches of Christ Innovators, 1988) when the popular view of
in the USA. He received the Climate Russia was one of technological
Protection award from the United States incompetence in the communist world;
Environmental Protection Agency for his Muslim-Christian harmony (Monks of
work while at the National Council of Tibhirine: Faith Love and Terror in Algeria,
Churches. 2002) when people were touting
irreconcilable differences between Islam and
From 1980 to 1996, he served as the first the West, and now Commander of the
director of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Faithful: A Story of True Jihad. Abd el-
Program working first in the national Kader was a man of deep faith combined
headquarters of the United Presbyterian with chivalrous humanity, intellectual
Church in New York and then moving to openness and warrior courage, making him a
Louisville, Kentucky after the merger of the hero in the Muslim and Christian worlds of
Presbyterian Church US and the United the 19th century. Commander of the Faithful
Presbyterian Church. is the third book of a trilogy that began with
Stefan Zweig: Death of a Modern Man
Mr. Killmer worked for the National (1995). Popular in 1930s and 40s, Zweigs’s
Council of Churches previously from 1970- works are being revived by NY Times
1980. During that period he directed the Books. Kiser was perplexed by Zweig’s
Special Ministries/Vietnam Generation, suicide in 1942, living safely in Brazil,
Domestic Hunger and Poverty, and co- wealthy, world famous and with young new
directed the Child and Family Justice wife. This led to a reflection on Zweig’s life
Project. built on faith in humanism and
individualism. Underlying these books is an
He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall inquiry into what guides and sustains people
College and has two degrees from Princeton in difficult times.
Theological Seminary. He has also served

50
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Islamic Sciences in traditional Islamic


School in Rize and then continued his
  traditional as well as modern education at
Istanbul Imam Hatip Lisesi, a religious
Nsenga Knight  seminary in Istanbul. He moved to Cairo,
Egypt, to continue his higher Islamic studies
at Al-Azhar University, which is renowned
world famous oldest Islamic University.
There he studied five years of Islamic Law
as well as Modern European Law. Then
studied towards MA in Islamic Law at
Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey, and
earned his Law Degree at Istanbul
University School of Law, Istanbul Turkey,
Through Photography, video and oral in 1992. He moved to Binghamton as Imam
history, Brooklyn-based artist Nsenga in 1993 and joined Graduate Program at
Knight, explores the spiritual and SUNY Binghamton. He earned MA in
community lives of Black women who Middle East History at Binghamton
converted to Islam prior to 1975 and University in 1999. He is currently working
pioneered Brooklyn’s oldest Muslim on his PhD. in Middle Eastern History,
communities. Knight chose women because specializing on the Islamic Scholars and
their stories were seldom told, and because Knowledge Production in Ottoman History.
"who these women are have a very direct He has taught, with Professor and Rabbi
effect on who I am. Reared in the Lance Sussman, classes on World Religions
indigenous Muslim communities of and Biblical History at SUNY Binghamton,
Brooklyn, Nsenga has experienced the Sufism at Broome Community College, and
transition, expansion and diversity of the he has give lectures on Islam and Muslim
Muslim community in New York City. Societies at various public forums, churches,
schools and clubs in and around our locality.
Kasim Kopuz  He is member of Broome County Council of
Churches Interfaith Committee. He has
been Imam of the Islamic Organization of
the Southern Tier since 1993. He is married
and has three children, named as Hafsa
Nihal, Zehra Betuland Hamidullah Eren
Kopuz.

Shayk Kasim Kopuz was born in Rize,


Turkey. He is the Imam of Islamic
Organization of the Southern Tier at
Binghamton, New York. Kopuz has studied
traditional Islamic sciences starting at a very
early age. He has memorized the entire
Qur'an, which earned him title of Hafiz and
then he learned Arabic and traditional

51
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

Radwan Kouatli  Murat Kose 

Imam Radwan Kouatli is the founder of Murat Kose is Founder and President, Nurtel
Love God institute, a non for profit Telecom, New Castle, DE
educational ministry dedicated to share the He has performed extensive
mercy and love of God. Radwan acquired multidisciplinary research and founded
his early religious education in the old city several successful start-up companies , has
of Damascus, his birthplace. He moved to BS in Chemical Engineering from Istanbul
the USA in 1987, graduated in 1991 with Technical University, Istanbul Turkey and
honors from the University of Central MS in Chemical Engineering and
Florida with a B.S.B.A. with a major focus Microelectronics from University of
in marketing, and became a US citizen in Rochester, Rochester NY. He also
1999. To Radwan, seeking knowledge is a completed all the requirements except
lifelong journey. Some of the areas that were dissertation for the PhD in Chemical and
covered during his journey of seeking Biomedical Engineering in Syracuse
knowledge are: the Science of Hadeeth University, Syracuse NY.
(Prophetic Narrations), Usual al-Tasfeer He was the president of MSA both at the
(Quranic Hermeneutic), Usul-al Fiqh University of Rochester and Syracuse
(Science of Exegesis), Fiqh (Islamic University. The first (in the USA) Halal
Jurisprudence) and Aqeedah (Theology). Meal Plan was implemented during his
Since 1997, he served as imam with several presidency at Syracuse University. He has
congregations and delivered lectures and always being active at local community at
sermons in mosques, universities and places various capacities as teacher/principle of
of worship. He is the founding imam of Sunday School, board member etc. He also
Love God Congregation at al-Wadood coordinated settlement of Kosovo Refuges
mosque in Norfolk, NE where he lives and in the Syracuse Area.
serves as the teaching imam. Radwan is also He along with his wife currently runs a
the author of Live Your Life on Purpose. volunteer tutoring program for elementary,
Imam Radwan is married. He and his wife middle and high school students at the
Hollie have four beautiful children. Islamic Society of Delaware. Mr. Kose is
married with five children and lives in New
Castle DE.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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  Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims


Really Think.
Alexander Kronemer 
Ola Lanke 

Alexander Kronemer, co-founder of Unity


Productions Foundation (UPF) is a frequent
writer and lecturer on religious diversity, Ola Torgeir Lånke is a Norwegian politician for
Islamic awareness and cross-cultural the Christian Democratic Party.
communication. He has a Master’s in
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament
Theological Studies from Harvard
from Sør-Trøndelag in 1993, and has been re-
University. elected on three occasions. On the local level
Mr. Kronemer has published essays in Lånke was a member of Trondheim city council
numerous newspapers and journals, from 1991 to 1993. He was the chairman of the
including the Christian Science Monitor and Youth of the Christian People's Party, the youth
the Washington Post. wing of the Christian Democratic Party, from
He has lectured to the National Council on 1975 to 1976. Since 1997 he is a member of the
U.S.-Arab Relations, Harvard, Nike, Aetna, national Christian Democratic Party board.
and Disney.
He has appeared as a CNN commentator on Outside of politics he has worked as a priest,
several occasions, including during CNN’s having graduated from the MF Norwegian
historic live coverage of the Hajj in 1998. School of Theology as cand.theol. in 1977.

In 2000, Mr. Kronemer served a one-year


appointment at the Bureau of Human Rights Bruce Lustig 
in the U.S. State Department focusing on
U.S. foreign policy and Islam.

Mr. Kronemer is the Co-Executive Producer


of the UPF films: Muhammad: Legacy of a
Prophet, Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall
of Islamic Spain, A Prince Among Slaves:
The True Story of an African Prince Rabbi Bruce Lustig, M.A.H.L., Senior
Enslaved in the American South, Allah Rabbi is senior rabbi at Washington Hebrew
Made Me Funny: The Official Muslim Congregation. Along with the daily
Comedy Tour, On a Wing and a Prayer: An responsibilities of leading a 3,000 member
American Muslim Learns to Fly, Talking Congregation, he has shown community
through Walls: How the Struggle to Build a involvement in the Jewish Council for
Mosque United a Community, and Who the Aging, the Executive Board of Israel
Bonds of the Greater Washington

53
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Area, the UAHC Rabbinic Network on December 2004, Edina represented MPAC
Youth Suicide, the Mayors Faith Advisory at a United Nations seminar on "Confronting
Board, the National Liaison for National Islamophobia." In 2003, Edina was invited
Day of Prayer, and the Board of by the Malaysian government to be one of
Directors of the American Cancer Society, two U.S. representatives to the International
District of Columbia Division. He Conference of Muslim Young Leaders,
is a pro-active leader of Washington's which served as a precursor to the annual
Interfaith Community and organized conference of the Organization of Islamic
the nation's first Abrahamic Summit Conference (OIC). In all settings, Edina
bringing together Christians, Jews and works to enhance the political and social
Muslims for dialogue. participation of the American Muslims by
sharing tools and avenues for engagement
Rabbi Lustig received a Bachelor of Arts that will lead to a future in which Muslims
degree (with honors) from the are a positive, contributing part of the
University of Tennessee. He holds a Master American fabric.
of Arts in Hebrew Letters and was
ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish
Institute of Religion.
Mahmood A. Madani  
Edina Lekovic 

Maulana Mahmood A. Madani is an Islamic


As MPAC's Communications Director, scholar from a long line of Islamic scholars.
Edina acts as a spokeswoman for the He is a graduate from Deoband and is
American Muslim community to media currently a member of the Parliament of
outlets, government officials, interfaith India representing Uttar Pradesh. An
leaders, academic institutions, and enthusiastic social worker, he has a long
community groups. Edina has appeared on track record of providing relief and
national media outlets, including CNN, rehabilitation to the victims of man-made or
BBC, MSNBC, and the History Channel. natural disasters; undertook several
Since joining MPAC, Edina's work has also rehabilitation projects in earthquake affected
been featured in several leading newspapers, areas in Gujarat and Kashmir Valley,
including the Wall Street Journal, tsunami affected areas in Andhra Pradesh,
Washington Times, Associated Press, and flood affected areas in Assam, Bihar and
Chicago Tribune, and Los Angeles Times. Orissa. He is also the author of Composite
Edina has also participated in numerous Nationalism.
national and international conferences and
interfaith dialogues speaking on a variety of
issues related to American Muslims. In

54
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  Washington, D.C. He served as Muslim


chaplain of Howard University in
Mokhtar Maghraoui  Washington, D.C.. Currently he works as the
outreach director for the Dar Al Hijrah
Islamic Center in Northern Virginia and
serves as the chair of government relations
of the Muslim Alliance of North America.

Sakil Malik 

Sakil Malik is the Director, International


Development Division at the International
Originally from Algeria, Sheikh Maghraoui Reading Association. He manages multi-
holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and million dollar grant funded projects around
Computer Science and a master in Physics. the world. Previously, he served as a
He taught at Syracuse University, Union Program Manager for Capacity Building and
College and St. Rose, Graduate School of Advocacy at World Learning for
Islamic & Social Sciences. He is currently a International Development, Program
resident Scholar at the Islamic Center of Coordinator for Child Welfare League of
Boca Raton (Florida) and counselor to many America's International Office in
National Islamic Organizations. Previously Washington, D.C. He also worked for SIT-
he served at the Shari'a Scholars Association BRAC Global Partnership and TAF
of North America and Fiqh Council of North Democracy Partnership Program, CARE
America. Dr. Mokhtar Maghraoui is a Hafiz International, PRIP Trust (Former
and is best known for his Tazkiyat al-Nafs PACT/USAID Project) in Bangladesh, and
(Purification of the Soul) retreats and the Advocacy Institute, Washington D.C.
thought-provoking seminars that empower Sakil, a native of Bangladesh, holds a
Muslims in their spiritual quest. Master of Arts degree from the Aligarh
University, India, a Bachelor's degree in
Johari Abdul Malik  Commerce from Dhaka University,
Bangladesh and an International Diploma in
Peace and Conflict Studies from the
European Peace University in Austria. He
has recently started his PhD Coursework at
University of Maryland, College Park. Sakil
is a development worker, manager, trainer,
and facilitator with extensive experience in
international and development management
in the areas of NGO and socio-cultural
Johari Abdul Malik is the President of the development, project design and planning,
Coordinating Council of Muslim policy advocacy, organizational
Organizations, Head of the National development, gender, small-enterprise
Association of Muslim Chaplains in Higher development and micro credit, cultural
Education, President of the Muslim Society competence and workforce development. As
of Washington, Inc., and a founding member a development worker, he has a thorough
of the Muslim Advocacy Commission of understanding of cultural, political,

55
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

economic and social issues in developing  


countries. Sakil is fluent in five languages,
Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic. Salam S. Al­Marayati 
Sakil has published his articles in
international newsletters and journals. Sakil
lives in Laurel, Maryland with his son
Shafin, daughter Samreen

Mahmood Mamdani   

Mr. Salam S. Al-Marayati was born on


September 2, 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. His family
left Iraq and immigrated to the United States in
1964. He is now an American citizen.

Mr. Al-Marayati earned a bachelor’s of science


Mahmood Mamdani is the Herbert Lehman degree in Bio-Chemistry from the University of
Professor of Government in the Departments California (UCLA). He then received an
of Anthropology and Political Science at executive master’s degree in Business
Columbia University in the United States. Administration from the University of
He is also the Director of Columbia's California-Irvine (UCI).
Institute of African Studies. He is a former
President of the Council for Development of Mr. Al-Marayati worked as a process chemical
Social Research in Africa (CODESRIA) engineer in the semiconductor industry for two
Dakar, Senegal. years. He later changed careers and served as a
liaison to the Muslim community for Los
Angeles City Councilman Robert Farrel.
Mamdani's reputation as an expert in
African history, politics and international Mr. Al-Marayati is the director and one of the
relations has made him an important voice founders of the Muslim Public Affairs Council
in contemporary debates about Africa. His (MPAC), a public service agency aimed at
book Citizen and Subject: Contemporary disseminating accurate information about Islam
Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism to the American public. He has been director of
won the 1998 Herskovits Award of the MPAC for the past ten years. At his present
African Studies Association of the USA. position, Mr. Al-Marayati has had the
opportunity to speak to congregations at
In 2001, he was one of nine scholars to community-sponsored events, temples,
present at the Nobel Peace Prize Centennial synagogues, churches, high schools, and college
campuses. Also, Mr. Al-Marayati served as a
Symposium.[2] He has been named as one
Board member of the American committee to
of the top 100 public intellectuals in the Save Bosnia, a committee formed to lobby
world by the US magazine Foreign Policy in Congress and the Administration to end the
May 2008. genocide in Bosnia. Mr. Al-Marayati serves as a
commissioner of the Human Relations
Commission in Los Angeles, a commission
formed to improve access to city government,
reduce discrimination, and promote respect,
tolerance and justice.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

designed to help parents new to home


He has written extensively on Islam, human schooling.
rights, democracy, Middle East politics, the
Balkan Crisis, and the Transcaucus conflict.
His articles and interviews have appeared on Father James Massa 
such prominent newspapers as The Wall
Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The
Christian Science Monitor, The LA Daily
News, The Chicago Tribune, The San
Francisco Chronicle and USA Today. He
has appeared on radio and TV talk shows
including C-SPAN and NBC.

Priscilla Martinez  Father James Massa is a priest of the


Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and a
graduate of Fordham University, where he
earned his Ph.D. in systematic theology in
1997.

He serves as executive director of the U.S


episcopal conference's Secretariat for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
Father Massa has long been a proponent of
Priscilla Martinez is a homeschooling
interreligious dialogue.
mother of six children in metropolitan
Washington DC. She was elected to the
In an interview given last year, Father Massa
Board of Directors of The Organization of
stated "Together, Muslims and Catholics
Virginia Homeschoolers in 2004 and also
face a common adversary in the form of an
served as the Chair of the Board’s Public
aggressive secularism that denies
Relations Committee. Martinez is the
transcendent moral principles that undergird
founder of the Ashburn-Sterling
the rule of law and respect for human
Homeschoolers group, co-owner of the LIFE
dignity."
Homeschool group, and founder of the
ADAMS chapter of Homeschoolers
Father Massa is a member of the North
Educating Assisting and Reaching-out
American Academy of Ecumenists, the
Through Service (HEARTS). She volunteers
National Association of Ecumenical
for the National Capital Area Council of the
Officers, the Society of Catholic Liturgy,
Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts
and the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and
Council of the Nation's Capital, the
and lectures around the country on topics
Interfaith Council of Metropolitan
related to ecumenical and interreligious
Washington, the All Dulles Area Muslim
dialogue.
Society, Lououn Youth Soccer Association,
and Upper Loudoun Little League. She has
written for Islamic Horizons and Educating
the Muslims of America (ed. Dr. Yvonne
Haddad and Dr. Jane Smith). Martinez
frequently delivers seminars and workshops

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  Humanities and the Director of the Institute


of Global Cultural Studies at the State
  University of New York at Binghamton.
In addition to his appointments as the Albert
Ingrid Mattson.   Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities,
Professor in Political Science, African
Studies, Philosophy, Interpretation and
Culture and the Director of the Institute of
Global Cultural Studies (IGCS), Mazrui also
holds three concurrent faculty appointments
as Albert Luthuli Professor-at-Large in the
Humanities and Development Studies at the
University of Jos in Nigeria, Andrew D.
White Professor-at-Large Emeritus and
Senior Scholar in Africana Studies at
Ingrid Mattson is the current President of the Cornell University, Ithaca, New York and
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Chancellor of the Jomo Kenyatta University
and served as ISNA Vice-President from of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi,
2001 to 2006. Dr. Mattson also currently Kenya. In 1999, Mazrui retired as the
serves as Director of Islamic Chaplaincy and inaugural Walter Rodney Professor at the
Professor at the Macdonald Center for University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana.
Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Mazrui has also been a Visiting Scholar at
Relations at Hartford Seminary in Stanford University, The University of
Connecticut. She earned her Ph.D. in Chicago, Colgate University, McGill
Islamic Studies from the University of University, National University of
Chicago in 1999; focusing on Islamic law Singapore, Oxford University, Harvard
and society. Her publications include studies University, Bridgewater State College, Ohio
on slavery, poverty, and Islamic legal State University, and at other institutions in
theory. Prior to her Ph.D., Dr. Mattson Cairo, Australia, Leeds, Nairobi, Teheran,
obtained her B.A. in Philosophy from the Denver, London, Baghdad, and Sussex,
University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. amongst others.

Ali Al’amin Mazrui  Bonita McGee 

Bonita R. McGee received a Masters in


Ali Al'amin Mazrui is an academic and Islamic Sciences from the School of Islamic
political writer on African and Islamic and Social Sciences in 2004. Previously Sr.
studies and North-South relations. He is an Bonita worked at a full service Domestic
Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Violence Shelter in Columbus, OH. Sr.

58
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Bonita is also the Board member and Co-  


founder of the Muslim Family Services
(formerly the Muslim Women’s Network Jack Moline 
and Community Services), a social service
organization serving the Muslim community
in Greater Columbus and surrounding areas.
Muslim Family Services offers support,
referral, and training to both Muslim and
Non-Muslim in an effort to bridge gaps to
address the social issues in the community
effectively. Sr. Bonita began her efforts to
stop violence against women and anti-
oppression work in her years as an Jack Moline has been the rabbi of Agudas
Achim Congregation in Alexandria since 1987,
undergraduate at The Ohio State University.
and he has been a respected advocate for
She participated in the Rape Education and tolerance and understanding in the City of
Prevention Program and later volunteered Alexandria for 20 years.
with Choices- a domestic violence shelter in
Columbus. Other volunteer efforts include Jack Moline has supported many city programs
being a volunteer with SARNCO (Sexual and activities that focus on education and the
Assault Response Network of Central Ohio) greater needs of the Alexandria community, and
as patient advocate for rape survivors. Sr. over the years, he has been a valuable advisor to
Bonita served as Program Chair for ISNA’s city managers and the Alexandria City Council
Domestic Violence Awareness Activities on many public issues and has participated in
and developed a website on domestic numerous civic events and activities, including
the Call to Community, Days of Remembrance,
violence for ISNA. She continues to
9 - 11 Remembrance, and Martin Luther King
provide trainings and assessments for Day.
communities in need to address the issue of
domestic violence and serves on the board Jack Moline partners with other Alexandria
of the Islamic Social Service Association, a clergy in their mission to increase tolerance and
national organization addressing social understanding of all faiths and peoples; he has
issues and promoting social work and been an effective member of the Interfaith
related fields in the Muslim Community. Counci, and he was instrumental in launching
Operation Understanding, which encourages
respect, understanding, and cooperation between
Mohammed Mohiuddin   the African-American and Jewish communities.

Mohammed Mohiuddin is Chairman and


Professor, Dept. of Radiation Medicine,
University of Kentucky A.B. Chandler
Medical Center, Lexington, KY and is also
Co-Director Geisinger Cancer Institute,
Director Henry cancer Center, Wilkes Barre,
PA.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

   

Hadia Mubarak  Mikal N. Nash 

Hadia Mubarak is a full-time doctoral


student at Georgetown University's Islamic Mikal N. Nash (formerly Michael Nash) is a
Studies department. Her research interests native Newarker and a pioneering researcher
include the development of Islamic family on the history of Islam in the Greater
law, Islamic reform and gender issues in Newark, NJ community. He is a full-time
Islam. Mubarak previously worked as a faculty member in the Division of
Senior Researcher with the Center for Humanities/Department of History at Essex
Muslim-Christian Understanding at County College. He is a part-time lecturer
Georgetown University, a researcher with at Rutgers University and has taught Islam
the Gallup Organization’s Center for in the Black Experience and related courses
Muslim Studies and a researcher with in the Department of African-American and
American University’s Islam in the Age of African Studies on the Newark campus and
Globalization project. In 2004, Mubarak was the Department of Africana Studies on the
the first female to be elected as president of New Brunswick campus. In 2005-2006, he
the Muslim Students Association National was a participant in the American Cities and
(MSA) since its establishment in 1963. Public Spaces Project, a research institute at
Mubarak received her Master’s degree in the Library of Congress sponsored by the
Contemporary Arab Studies with a Community College Humanities Association
concentration in Women and Gender from and funded in part by the National
Georgetown University. She received her Endowment for the Humanities.
Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs
and English from Florida State University.  

60
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  Department of Medicine and Chief of Staff


at Barberton Citizens Hospital and the Co-
Ghulam N. Mir  Chair of the Physician Leadership Group for
the Barberton Campus of the Triad Hospital
System.

Uzma Mirza 

Uzma Mirza is a registered and licensed


Architect, LEED certified with the US
Green Building Council. Originally hails
from Canada, a graduate of Carleton
University in Ottawa. She has been
Dr. Mir is the President of World Kashmir practicing for 13 years in the USA, with
Awareness. He also serves as the President three internationally distinct firms. She is a
of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement, member of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities,
an independent advocacy organization the AIA, NCARB and the US Green
working towards a peaceful resolution of the building Council. Presently, she is principal
conflict over Kashmir, with offices in and founder of a Sustainable and green
London, Washington D.C., and Akron, Architecture practice called, AYN Architect.
Ohio. Dr. Mir has spoken widely regarding She is also president and founder of The Pen
the options for peacefully resolving the and Inkpot Foundation. In addition she is an
Kashmir conflict, including at conferences Artist and a writer. Her Art is a spiritual Art
across the United States and in London, called Pen and Inkpot. Her Art and
Brussels, and Islamabad. Architecture are compliments, of each other
with the thread of philanthropy and her
Professionally, Dr. Mir practices as a written work, pending publication the
Gastroenterologist in Northeastern Ohio. weave. Her spiritual Art, Architecture,
Dr. Mir is the Medical Director of the writing and Philanthropy celebrate, as she
Center for Digestive Diseases and phrases: ‘the stitching of a Sustainable
Endoscopy at Summa Barberton Hospital, human’. She is a Muslim woman business
Barberton, Ohio. He is also a member of the owner building a social entrepreneurship of
Board of Trustees of Summa Barberton profit, non-profit with the environment,
Hospital; Medical Director of the Digestive people and spirituality, in mind. She is
Wellness Center in Norton, Ohio; and presently working on a Library for the Lost
President of Summit Gastroenterology Boys of Panyijiar, South Sudan. One of her
Associates in Norton, Ohio. Dr. Mir is a visions is a Green Mosque for the 21st
Fellow of the American Gastroenterology century, with woman in mind.
Association and Clinical Assistant Professor
of Medicine at the Northeastern Ohio
Universities Colleges of Medicine
(NEOUCOM) in Rootstown, Ohio.

Dr. Mir previously also served as the Chief


of Gastroenterology, Chief of the

61
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

Asma Mirza  Yaqub Mirza 

Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza has been President and


Sr. Asma Mirza served as President of the CEO of Sterling Management Group, Inc.
Muslim Students Association (MSA) (“SMG”) since 1998, of Sterling Advisory
National for two terms from 2007-2009. Services, Inc. since its inception, and
Previously she served as Georgetown MSA President and CEO of MarJac Investments,
President (2004-2005), MSA National East Inc. (“Mar-Jac”) since 1995. From 1987-
Zone Rep (2005-2006), Treasurer (2006- 1995, he served as Executive Vice President
2007) and founder and Director of the MSA of MarJac. MarJac makes proprietary
Legacy Fund (2006-2007). Currently she investments in U.S. and foreign securities
serves on the MSA National Board as Ex- and provides international business
officio while working as an Organizational management services. MarJac and its
Strategy Consultant for Booz Allen affiliates operated in the United States,
Hamilton. Sr. Asma holds an MBA from Canada, Chile, Egypt, Malaysia, Turkey and
the University of Maryland and Bachelors in Zimbabwe.
Management and Operations Information Dr. Mirza also served as Vice President
Management from Georgetown University. (1984-1994) and President (1995-2000, the
At the University of Maryland, Sr. Asma year it was dissolved) of the Saar
was Vice President of the MBA Consulting Foundation, a Virginia not-for-profit
Club and was nominated by her classmates corporation. Since 1984, Dr. Mirza has been
to speak at the MBA Graduation Ceremony. actively negotiating mergers, acquisitions
Previously, Sr. Asma was a member of the and sales of various sized companies and
ISNA Shura and MYC, the MYNA real estate projects located in different parts
Advisory Board. She was also a member of of the world. After many of the acquisitions,
the ADAMS Center Girls Scouts for 12 Dr. Mirza is involved as director and officer
years, the DC Eid Committee, and an active in the development of the acquired company
participant in the ADAMS Center Sisters or real estate project by evaluating top
Youth Group. She currently lives with her management to maximize efficiency and
family in Herndon, VA. profitability and then restructuring,
streamlining or expanding the same. In
addition, Dr. Mirza has more than 20 years
of experience in stock investments and
portfolio management involving assets
ranging from $1-$10 million.
Dr. Mirza has served as a Trustee and
Treasurer and later as Chairman (1987-

62
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

February 2003), and is now an Advisor to directs the Muslim-West Facts Initiative
the Board of Trustees of the Amana Mutual (www.muslimwestfacts.com), through
Funds, which are registered with the which Gallup, in collaboration with the
Securities & Exchange Commission as an Coexist Foundation, is disseminating the
open-end investment company and managed findings of the Gallup World Poll to key
by Saturna Capital Corporation. In addition, opinion leaders in the Muslim World and the
Dr. Mirza currently serves as Chairman of West.
the Board of Directors of Jugos
Concentrados, S.A. (“Jucosa”), a Chilean
producer of juice concentrates, traded on the Haroon Moghul 
Santiago Stock Exchange. He also serves on
the Board of numerous other companies. He Haroon Moghul is Director of Public
served on the Board of Mylex Corporation, a Relations for the Islamic Center at New
NASDAQ listed, world leader of RAID York University. He is a Ph.D. candidate at
technology and network management Columbia University.
products from December 1988 until
September 1999 when Mylex was acquired Haroon has spoken at numerous Muslim,
by IBM for $240 million. Christian and Jewish institutions, and has
Dr. Mirza holds a M.Sc. from University of led educational and interfaith workshops to
Karachi (1969), a Ph.D. in Physics (1974) advance understanding and dialogue. His
and M.A. in Teaching Science (1975) from speaking engagements include the
University of Texas at Dallas. University of Pennsylvania, the University
of Michigan and the University of
Minnesota, as well as guest appearances on
Dalia Mogahed  CNN and NPR. He has been interviewed on
Voice of America, al-Hurra and The
National (Abu Dhabi) among others.

A contributing editor and end-page


columnist for Islamica, Haroon also
maintains a popular blog, Avari, which won
several Brass Crescent Awards (in 2004 and
2005), including wins for Best Muslim Blog
and Best Writing. His essays have been
published in a variety of media, including
Dalia Mogahed is a Senior Analyst at Gallup Dawn, The Friday Times and Tikkun. His
and Executive Director of the Gallup Center first novel, "The Order of Light," was
for Muslim Studies. She is coauthor of the released by Penguin in 2006. A French
book Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion translation arrived in 2007.
Muslims Really Think (Gallup Press, March
2008). Haroon has been selected as one of 300
Mogahed provides leadership, strategic Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow and
direction, and consultation on the collection participated in the Third Annual Muslim
and analysis of Gallup's unprecedented Leaders of Tomorrow Conference in Doha,
survey representing the opinions of more Qatar (2009).
than 1 billion Muslims worldwide. She also

63
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Haroon is married and lives in New York His early experiences abroad and family
City. tradition of activism have contributed to his
focus on building bridges between
communities by promoting common
Marriyam Moten  understanding, cultural engagement, and
social transformation. At an early age,
Sultan studied Arabic and Islamic sciences
on scholarship abroad and is the son of the
late Imam Sultan Muhammad, nephew of
Imam W. Deen Muhammad, and great-
grandson of the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad.

Abdul Malik Mujahid  
Marriyam Moten graduated Dow Medical
College , Karachi University , Karachi ,
Pakistan ,MPH University of Pittsburgh ,
PA Clinical Associate Professor of
Medicine, Marshall University , Dept of
Medicine, University of Tennessee.

Certified Diplomat in the Subspecialty of


Nuclear Cardiology
Abdul Malik Mujahid is the Chairman of the
Sultan Muhammad  Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater
Chicago, is founder of Sound Vision, and an
award winning author. As the national
coordinator of Bosnia Task Force, USA he
successfully led efforts to declare rape as a
war crime. He is also a board member of the
Parliament of the World Religions.

 
Sultan Muhammad is a native Chicagoan, is
a community organizer with a background in
strategic communications and multimedia
production. Sultan is IMAN’s (Inner-city
Muslim Action Network) Lead Organizer on
Chicago’s South-side and works around
human rights issues facing marginalized
communities. He publishes educational
resources and is co-founder of a Chicago-
based multi-media production company.

64
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  Media Institute, creating national webcasts


and tv shows/specials. After this period,
Nasreen C. Mustafa  Rayyan continued to produce media for non-
profit organizations as a volunteer service.
In 2007, he was introduced to MYNA for
the first time and became the
Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana regional
representative. After establishing a MYNA
chapter in Milwaukee, Rayyan concentrated
his talents as PR chair producing media and
promoting MYNA among the chapters.

Nasreen C. Mustafa earned a Bachelor of Husain Nagamia 


Science in accountancy and a minor in
sociology at the George Washington
University, where she also served in the
Americorps and on the board of the GW
Muslim Students Association. After
college, she went on to live in the
Philippines for nine months as a U.S.
Fulbright Scholar and a research associate at
the Economics Research Center of the
University of the Philippines. During her
grant, she studied a community-based, Dr. Husain Nagamia is Chief Emeritus of
interest-free microcredit program for Metro Department of Cardio Vascular and
Manila Muslims who have fled conflict in Thoracic Surgery and Cardiac Transplant
Mindanao. Center at Tampa General Hospital Tampa,
Starting September 2009, insha Allah, she Florida. He is currently Clinical Assistant
will be working as an auditor for Professor of Surgery at the University of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Nasreen South Florida Medical School, Tampa, FL.
currently resides with her loving family in
her hometown of Arlington, Virginia. Dr. Nagamia has been actively involved in
establishing and volunteering for a number
Rayyan Najeeb  of Islamic Organizations locally, nationally
as well as Internationally. He is a member of
Founder’s Committee for Islamic Society of
North American (ISNA). He has been a past
president of Islamic Medical Association of
North America (IMANA), past Editor-in-
Chief of Journal of the Islamic Medical
Association of North America (JIMA), and
is the founder/chairman of International
Institute of Islamic Medicine (IIIM) a
Rayyan Najeeb will be attending organization of IMANA dedicated to
Northwestern in the fall. Between 2005- research in History of Islamic Medicine. He
2008, Rayyan was a member of Strive serves as Vice Chairman of International

65
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Society of History of Islamic Medicine


(ISHIM) based in Doha, Qatar. Dr. Nagamia Br. Pervez Nasim was employed by the
has published and presented numerous Ministry of Finance in Canada from where
articles and papers on the “History of he retired in 2004 after twenty-seven years
Islamic Medicine”, and is authoring a book of service so that he can devote more time to
on this subject. He has lectured all over the the various Islamic Financing & Investment
world on Islamic Medicine including: USA Projects. During the past twenty years he has
(many cities), U.K., Qatar, UAE, Libya, made a number of presentations on
Tehran, Pakistan, India, South Africa, ISLAMIC FINANCE in various
China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Canada. INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC BANKING
AND FINANCE conferences held in
Chicago, Houston, Los Angles, Toronto,
Pervez Nasim  Khartoum, Kuala Lumpur, Trinidad,
Chittagong, Riyadh, Monterrey Mexico,
Brunei Darussalam and at Harvard
University, London School of Economics in
England and at Crans Montana Forum in
Geneva, Switzerland.

Ayman Nassar  

Br. Pervez Nasim is a Bachelor of


Commerce and a Certified Management
Accountant. He is a founding member and
Chair of the Board of the Islamic Co-
operative Housing Corporation Ltd. and he
has been volunteering his time since its
inception in 1980 in Toronto, and Ansar Co- Ayman Nassar works for IBM leading end-
operative Housing Corporation, first to-end next generation BSS/OSS application
Interest-Free Home Ownership and development for a global service provider.
Investment projects in North America. He is He also teaches project management and
also the Chair of the Canadian Islamic Trust systems engineering courses, and is an
Foundation (CITF) that is the Trust wing of author of several books in the area of project
ISNA Canada. management and leadership.

Br. Pervez Nasim is also Chairman & CEO


of a number of Ansar Financial Group of Sayed A. Nassar 
Companies that organized the 3rd Dr. Sayed A. Nassar is a Professor of
International Islamic Banking, Finance & Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence
Insurance (Takaful) Conference held in Technological University and the director of
Ottawa, Canada in May 2007. Ansar the Fastening and Joining Research Institute
Financial Group Companies are managing (FAJRI). Dr. Nassar is a Fellow of
investments on Interest-free basis in various American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Projects and Joint Ventures in excess of $80 (ASME).
Million in Canada.

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  studies and recently earned his Ph.D. in


Islamic studies.
  His PhD Thesis was on a comparative
review of some English translations of the
Daoud Nassimi  Qur’an.

Zarqa Nawaz 

Dr. Daoud Nassimi lives in Northern


Virginia and he is the vice-chairman of the
Council of Muslim Organizations in Greater
Washington, DC (CCMO). Zarqa Nawaz is the driving force behind
Fundamentalist Films and the creator of
He has been an activist and a student of Little Mosque on the Prairie, which debuted
Islam in the last 22 years in the United to large audiences and tremendous acclaim
States. in 2007.
He gives Jum’a Khutbahs in various Nawaz, born in Liverpool and raised in
Masajid, and lectures on Toronto, had a Bachelor of Science degree
Islamic topics at various forums in the DC from U of T in her hands when she realized
area. He has been volunteering to serve that staying out of the medical school would
the community in various capacities, be her greatest contribution to Canada’s
including as an Imam, counselor, health care system. Unfazed, she coolly
marriage celebrant, teacher, board member, switched career plans and received a
and chairman. Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism from
Ryerson in 1992. Nawaz worked as a
He is originally from Afghanistan. He is a freelance writer/broadcaster with CBC
frequent and passionate speaker in radio, and in various capacities with CBC
different Muslim Satellite TV shows on the Newsworld, CTV’s Canada AM, and CBC’s
subjects of Qur’an and Islamic Thought. The National. She was an associate producer
with a number of CBC radio programs
Dr. Nassimi has a unique and combined including Morningside and her radio
educational background in engineering and documentary The Changing Rituals of Death
Islamic studies. won first prize in the Radio Long
Besides his BS and MS in electrical Documentary category and the Chairman’s
engineering and working in the fields of Award in Radio Production at the Ontario
telecommunications and satellite Telefest Awards.
communications in the last 20 years, Other short film credits include Fred’s
he has also studied the Arabic language, Burqa and Random Check. In 2005,
finished a second Masters degree in Islamic Nawaz’s documentary entitled Me and the
Mosque, a co-production with the National

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Film Board and the CBC, was broadcast on Bloomington, IN. Mr. Nubani also has a
CBC’s Rough Cuts. Masters degree in History from Southern
Illinois University -Carbondale, IL. He
  received his bachelors in History from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI. Mr.
Muhammad Ninowy   Nubani is licensed to practice Law in New
York and Virginia, and specializes in
immigration law.

Sulayman S. Nyang 

Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Husayni Al-


Ninowy began his study under his father,
Sayyed Yahya, memorizing the Glorious
Qur'an and acquiring knowledge in many of
the Islamic disciplines, such as Tawheed, Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang is professor and
Hanafi/Shafi’i Fiqh, Usool, and Ihsaan. He chairman of the African Studies Department
delved further into the fields of Hadeeth and at Howard University in Washington, D.C.,
Ihsaan on the hands of various expert and co-principal investigator of Project
scholars of both fields worldwide. MAPS. A former deputy ambassador and
Dr. Muhammad is the director of the head of chancery of the Gambia Embassy in
American Islamic Institute, and senior Imam Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Nyang has served as
of Al Madina Masjid in Atlanta, Georgia consultant to several national and
. international agencies and on the boards of
Shaykh Muhammad has authored many the African Studies Association, the
books, some of which are being translated American Council for the Study of Islamic
into English and published, such as: Societies, and the Association of Muslim
“Hadithi commentary on the Shamaa’el of Social Scientists. [1] He has written
Imam Tirmithi”, “Explanation of the extensively on Islamic, African and Middle
Bayquni Text in Hadith”, “Imam Nasa’iy’s Eastern affairs. He holds a master’s degree
Khasaa’es”, “Imam Muslim’s methodology in public administration and a Ph.D. in
in Hadith”, and many others. government from the University of Virginia.

 
Ashraf Nubani 

Ashraf Nubani is an attorney and Managing


Partner of Busch & Nubani, P.C. in
Annandale, Virginia.
He received his law degree (J.D.) from
Indiana University Law School -
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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Serban Popescu   

Yasir Qadhi 

Mr. Popescu’s main duties include


collection, review, and submission of family
reunification sponsorship documents from
USCRI network agencies participating in the
Shaykh Yasir Qadhi was born in Houston,
U.S. State Department Reception &
Texas, in 1975, to parents who were of the
Placement program, liaising with the
first emigrants to Houston from Pakistan
Refugee Processing Center, Overseas
(his father came to America in 1963 and is
Processing Entities, and affiliates, and
an Islamic activist and author as well).
processing assurance forms. Mr. Popescu
He completed a Bachelor of Science in
began employment with USCRI as an
Chemical Engineering from the University
Administrative Assistant, coordinating
of Houston. After working for Dow
human resources for USCRI headquarters
Chemical for a short stint, he decided to
and field offices, and providing primary
pursue an education in Islamic studies, and
support to the Vice President and Chief
left for the Islamic University of Madinah,
Operating Officer. Prior to joining USCRI,
where he spent ten years. There, he
he worked as a Research Assistant at Streit
completed a second bachelor's degree,
Council for a Union of Democracies in
specializing in hadith studies, and then went
Washington, DC. Serban received his M.A.
on to complete an M.A. in Theology.
in Nationalism Studies from the Central
Currently, he is completing his PhD in
European University, and B.A. in
Islamic studies at Yale University in New
Philosophy from the University of
Haven, Connecticut, where he lives with his
Bucharest. He speaks French and
wife and four children.
Romanian.
In addition to his studies, he is also the Dean
of Academic Affairs of AlMaghrib Institute,
  one of the largest advanced Institutes of
Islamic Studies in North America.

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46th Annual ISNA Convention

 
 
 
Amjad Quadri  Khurshid Qureshi 

Dr. Khurshid Qureshi is the past the


president of the Association of Muslim
Amjad Quadri is currently the Assistant Scientists and Engineers (AMSE). In
Vice President of Business addition, he served as the member the board
Development and New Markets at of directors of the Islamic Society of North
University Islamic Financial. Before America (ISNA), and is the past chairman of
moving into his current role at University Society of Automotive Engineers Rocky
Islamic Financial Corp., Mountain Area, and the past president of
Mr. Quadri helped form advisory councils of Colorado Engineering Society. He is a
local imams and community frequent speaker on Islamic & geo political
leaders in three states and started two new issues on international circuit.
offices, the latter which He is graduate of Oklahoma State University
he currently supervises. Mr. Quadri and Stuart School of Business (IIT
graduated from the University of Chicago). He has also completed Executive
Illinois with a degree from the college of Management program at UCLA.
Business in Information In the early days of the MSA, he helped to
Decision Sciences. Before entering the establish chapters in Texas, Oklahoma,
world of Islamic finance, he Arizona, Kansas and Arkansas. He also
worked in the information technology founded the first regularly scheduled Islamic
industry. He worked on Y2K youth camp in the USA, Al Hilal Youth
conversion projects for several large Camp, which recently observed its 27th
corporations, including IBM, anniversary. He served as a member of
McKinsey & Company, and CNA. He then board of Directors of Islamic Association of
spent three years as a release Greater Detroit.
engineer/project manager for Cyborg
Systems, now owned by Hewitt
Associates. Amjad's first foray into Islamic
finance was as a field
sales consultant for Guidance Financial
Group. In his spare time,
among other things, he has served as Vice
President of one of the
largest Mosques in the US.

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  Saifur Rahman 

Ajmel Quereshi 

Dr. Saifur Rahman professor of electrical


and computer engineering and the director
Ajmel Quereshi is currently Skadden of the Advanced Research Institute at
Fellowship Attorney at the American Civil Virginia Tech. He is a Fellow of the Institute
Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maryland and of Electrical & Electronics Engineers
Director of the affiliate's Immigrants' Rights (IEEE), and a director of the IEEE Board of
Project. While there, he manages a variety Governors, and Vice President of the IEEE
of cases involving challenges to local anti- Publications Board in 2006. Dr. Rahman is a
immigrant initiatives and frequently testifies member of the Editorial Board of the
before the Maryland Senate and House of Proceedings of the IEEE.
Delegates. Before coming to the ACLU of
MD, he clerked for Chief Judge James G. Zeyba Rahman 
Carr of the U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of Ohio. Mr. Quereshi
received his law degree from the University
of Minnesota Law School in 2007, magna
cum laude, and his bachelor's degree from
Marquette University in 2003, cum laude.
He has had articles published in the Journal
of Islamic Law and Culture and the Human
Rights Brief on a variety of topics including
Islam and the Iraqi Constitution and Zeyba Rahman has been a producer/artistic
recommendations to the Obama director of live performances, television,
administration for changes in immigration film and forums for dialogue for more than
policy sixteen years. She brings project
management experience, gained as an
executive on Wall Street, to bear on projects
  with cultural and educational organizations
both nationally and internationally. These
  have included Asia Society, The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, the World
Bank’s World Faiths Development Dialogue
at Canterbury Cathedral in England, The

71
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

World Millennium Peace Summit for improving the images of Muslims in


Spiritual and Religious Leaders at the America. Fatima started her career, working
United Nations, and the Moroccan world for ABC 7 in Los Angeles, where she
music festivals in Essaouira and Rabat refined her communication skills and
among others. contacts. Her work as a writer, field reporter
and producer has been featured on many
In film, as a producer and partner for Jungli websites and newspapers throughout
Billi Productions, she has completed Southern California. Fatima has also
production of Sawt-e-Sarmad: The Sound participated in conferences for journalists
that Intoxicates Man (2004) and is in across the nation. She is excited about her
production with the documentaries NYC new position and feels it is extremely
(2003-04) and Early Cabbage (2002-04). important for MPAC to have a major role in
Dramatic feature film projects in how Hollywood shapes their messages about
development for Jungli Billi include Noor Muslim Americans.
and a 14-part television series titled The
Wandering Minstrel, a travel series  
exploring world music.
Hussein Rashid 
As Chairwoman of World Music Institute,
Director-North America, Fès Festival of
World Sacred Music and its Giving A Soul
to Globalization Colloquium, a public
speaker and a producing partner for Jungli
Billi Productions, Zeyba is deeply
committed to the advancement of human
rights and respect for cultural diversity Hussein Rashid is a PhD candidate in
Harvard University's NELC focusing on
  South Asian immigrant communities in the
US. He has an MTS from Harvard Divinity
Fatima Rahmatullah  School and a BA from Columbia College.

In 1996 he aided Estonia in trying to


establish commercial relations between
Estonia and India, Pakistan, and Iran.
During 2003 he worked with the Harvard
ILS’s to create position papers on the draft
Afghan constitution. He also advised a 2004
Democratic Presidential candidate’s foreign
policy team on the religious issues in Iraq
Fatima Rahmatullah- As MPAC's before consulting for a South Asia PAC.
Hollywood Liaison, Fatima facilitates
connections between the American Muslim He researched the impact of 9/11 on Muslim
community and Hollywood's film industry, adolescents throughout the US and Muslim
both on the artistic side and business end. blogs. In 2006 he became one of the Muslim
She works with writers, directors, producers, Leaders of Tomorrow. His current research
movie studios, and media outlets on interests include the representation of

72
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Muslims in graphic novels. He is an Trustee Suffolk County Coalition against


occasional speaker for the Interfaith Domestic Violence. He is part of the
Alliance, Faith in Public Life, and a teacher Trustee Foundation of the Faithful, NY. He
at the Center for Religious Inquiry. He is is a member of the Anti-bias Task Force of
currently a visiting faculty member at Town of Islip, Long Island, NY.
Hofstra University. His media appearances
include Air America Radio and CBS Sabeeha Rehman 
Evening News. He writes for Religion
Dispatches, AltMuslimah, Talk Islam,
Change the Story, and at his own blog
islamicate (islamicate.com).

Hafiz Rehman 
Ms. Sabeeha Rehman is the Director of
Interfaith Programs at the American Society
for Muslim Advancement (ASMA). As a
professional, Ms. Rehman has had a 25-year
career as a Healthcare Executive and has
served as a hospital administrator in New
York, New Jersey, and overseas. Ms.
Rehman has dedicated many years to the
teaching of Islam to the Muslim youth. As
Br. Hafiz Rehman was born and raised in a Sunday School teacher for several years,
Nairobi, Kenya. He is a pediatrician by she taught Level 1 through Senior Level,
profession. He serves as the senior Pediatric including Contemporary Issues in the Young
attending in two Long Island Hospitals and Adults Forum. As a member of the
Chairman of the Performance Improvement Education Committee for the Sunday
Committee. He has been the Adjunct School, Ms. Rehman was involved in the
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at New York design of the Islamic curriculum of the
Institute of Technology, NY College of Sunday School, selection of faculty,
Osteopathic Medicine -- 1966 establishment of Muslim Summer Camp,
He has served as the Clinical Assistant and planning special events for young
Professor of Pediatrics New York College of Muslims. She developed the first newsletter
Osteopathic Medicine --- 1999 for the mosque, served as its Editor, and
chaired the Editorial Board.
He is the President of IMANA --- Islamic
Medical Association of North America ---  
2008-2009. He is a life Member of APPNA.
He has been the past President of Masjid  
Darul Quran in Bay Shore. NY
He has served as a past President of Council
of Masajid and Islamic Organizations of
Long Island. He is a member of Bay Shore
Interfaith council. He is an Honorary

73
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  was the Assistant Director of the Initiative


for Policy Dialogue, a project directed by
Nadia Roumani  Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, and a junior
associate in Stiglitz’s office at the World
Bank from 1999-2000.
Nadia is the President of the Board of
Directors of the Muslim Public Service
Network; a Member of the Pacific Council
on International Policy; and a Term Member
of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Nadia received her master’s degree from
Columbia University’s School of
International and Public Affairs, and her
bachelor’s degree in economics and
Nadia Roumani is the Director of the international relations from Stanford
American Muslim Civic Leadership University.
Institute, a faith-based leadership training
and civic engagement program that
strengthens young leaders in the Muslim
community who are working towards the Walter Ruby 
full participation of Muslims in American Walter Ruby has served as Muslim Jewish
public life. AMCLI is housed at the USC Relations Officer with the Foundation For
Center for Religion and Civic Culture, and Ethnic Understanding in New York since
works in partnership with Georgetown’s March 2008. A strong advocate of Muslim-
Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim- Jewish communication and reconciliation,
Christian Understanding. he organized The Foundation-sponsored
In addition to her work with AMCLI, Nadia First National summit of imams and rabbis
is the consultant program officer for the in November 2007 in New York. As a career
Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art’s reporter, Ruby covered President Anwar
Building Bridges Program, and the Principal Sadat's historic trip to Jerusalem and the
of Roumani Consulting LLC. Nadia consults breakup of the Soviet Union. He has served
regularly for several international as New York and United Nations
organizations, foundations, and nonprofit correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and
organizations. Among others, she has Moscow correspondent for The Jerusalem
consulted for the World Bank, UNDP, UN Post and The Forward. Today, Ruby writes
Alliance of Civilizations, the Brookings for many newspapers including the New
Institution, the Four Freedoms Fund, the York Jewish Week, and the New York Daily
Carnegie Corporation, the Rothschild News.
Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers
Fund.
Nadia was the interim director for the
Women Leaders Intercultural Forum, and a
Senior Associate at the Carnegie Council on
Ethics and International Affairs, where she
co-founded the Global Policy Innovations
Program. Between 2000 and 2004, Nadia

74
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

   

Agha Saeed  Louay Safi 

Dr. Agha Saeed is the Founder and


Chairman of American Muslim Alliance and Louay Safi is the Executive Director of
a lecturer in the Program in Asian Studies at ISNA Leadership Development Center
California State University, East Bay. Dr. (ILDC), Plainfield, Indiana. He also serves
Saeed earned his B.A. in Political Science on the board of several leading Muslim
from University of Punjab, Pakistan and organizations, including the Center for the
M.A. and Ph.D. in Rhetoric from University Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID), the
of California at Berkeley. Dr. Saeed Islamic Horizons, and the Association of
spearheaded the campaign against the USA Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS). He is
Patriot Act that led to the California State fellow of the Institute for Social Policy and
Resolution SJR10 against the USA Understanding and serves on the steering
PATRIOT act. In 2000 and 2004, Dr. Saeed committee of the Muslim-Christian Initiative
was strategic force behind the creation of a on the Nuclear Weapons Danger.
first and second Muslim Bloc vote. He is the
currently chair of American Muslim
Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections Patricia Z. Salahuddin 
(AMT), which is the nationwide coalition of
Muslim Organizations. Dr Saeed is the Patricia Zahirah Salahuddin has been an
producer and host of Global Forum TV educator for the past 23 years. She taught
which is focused on examining major world students of various grade levels and age
issues from a Muslim perspective groups. For the last four years of her
teaching career she has been in an Islamic
  school. Since Ms. Salahuddin’s relocation
to the South Florida area with her family,
  she has given many volunteer hours,
organizing community workshops and
  training opportunities for teachers in Muslim
Schools. She initiated the formation of the
Muslim Teacher Association (MTA) along
with other concerned Muslim Educators in
2003. Since its establishment, MTA has
sponsored five conferences for teachers.

In 2000, she earned the National Board


Certification. Current she is pursuing a

75
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

doctoral degree at the Florida International  


University (FIU) and serving on the Board
of the Council of Islam Schools in North Monem Salam 
America (CISNA) as the secretary.

Rashid Abdul­Salaam 

Monem Salam, Saturna Capital’s Director of


Islamic Investing and Deputy Portfolio
Manager, was born in Pakistan in 1972.
Raised in Texas, Mr. Salam received his
Rashid Abdul-Salaam is owner and degrees from the University of Texas: BA
president of Rasheed & Associates, (Austin) and MBA (Dallas). He worked as
specializing in federal and state criminal Chief Investment Officer for ITG &
defense investigations. Mr. Abdul-Salaam Associates (Dallas) until 1999, then as a
has provided investigatory services for the representative with Morgan Stanley
Law Office of Dennis R. Scheib for more (suburban Dallas) until joining Saturna
than 5 years, and among other achievements, Capital in June 2003. Monem is active with
was instrumental in locating the witness the Muslim community in North America
whose testimony led to Gucci Mane’s through ISNA, as there WZ rep,
acquittal. He was also the investigator for Boardmember of the Muslim Public Service
NFL player Ray Lewis’ murder defense and Network, Boardmember of CAIR-WA and
was a consultant in the New York World current Chairman of Peaceful
Trade Center bombing case. Communications, a non-profit organization
Mr. Abdul-Salaam was a Presidential which complete a documentary called “On
Ceremonial Guard in the US Navy, a deputy A Wing and A Prayer”. In 2008, Monem
sheriff in Littleton, Colorado, and has been received the “20 Rising Stars” Award from
involved in criminal defense investigation Institutional Investor News. The award is
for more than 20 years. given to 20 leaders in the mutual fund
industry, under 40, who the magazine feels
  will change in the industry in a positive way
in the next 10 years. Monem is also the co-
author of a new book called “A Muslim’s
Guide to Investing And Personal Finance”.

76
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  organized an international conference on


Religion, Peace, and Conflict, and spoke at
Jihad F. Saleh  the Parliament of World Religions in
Barcelona, Spain. Salie will speak at
Melbourne’s PWR on the intra-faith code of
conduct in Michigan, and will join the week-
long Oxford Round Table panel at Oxford at
the end of July. In addition to his title as
Imam, Achmat Salie is a counselor,
interfaith and youth coordinator, peace and
eco-justice advocate, and university
Jihad F. Saleh is the Education and Judiciary professor.
Legislative Assistant for Congressman
Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY). Along with his Ako Abdul Samad 
legislative duties, he is also the Programs
Associate for the Congressional Muslim
Staffers Association. Since 2007, Jihad has
been an adviser to the IIC Summer
Internship Program and a consultant on IIC
projects to increase civic engagement within
the American Muslim community. Prior to
moving to Washington, DC, Jihad was an Ako Abdul-Samad is the Iowa State
inner-city high school teacher for four years. Representative from the 66th District. He
He has earned graduate degrees from has served in the Iowa House of
Stanford University's School of Education Representatives since 2007. Previously, he
and Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson had been a member of the Des Moines
School of Public Affairs. Jihad is originally school board.
from Los Angele Abdul-Samad is the founder and CEO of
Creative Visions Human Development
Institute, a non-profit organization in Des
Achmat Salie  Moines.
Abdul-Samad currently serves on several
committees in the Iowa House - the
Education committee; the Labor committee;
the State Government committee; and the
Human Resources committee, where he is
vice chair. He also serves on the Health and
Human Services Appropriations
Subcommittee.
Abdul-Samad also serves on the Health and
Imam Achmat Salie, a native of Cape Town, Human Services Committee of the
South Africa, is an avid traveler and reader. Midwestern Legislative Conference of the
He has degrees in Islamic jurisprudence Council of State Governments.
(alim fadil), education, Arabic and Islamic
Studies, and a doctorate in business
administration. Imam Salie has successfully

77
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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  African-American, Latino and Asian-


American ethnic communities as well as
Corey Saylor  promoting dialogue and cooperation among
the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith
communities.

Rabbi Schneier is President and Founder of


the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
(FFEU) and serves as Chairman of the
World Jewish Congress American Section,
as well as its Commission on Intergroup
Corey Saylor is legislative director for the Relations.
Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR). Saylor has more than a decade of Beverly Schwartz 
nonprofit political communications,
legislative advocacy, and media relations
experience. Saylor played a role in advocacy
campaigns drawing concessions from
corporate giants such as Burger King and
Bell Helicopter-Boeing. News outlets such
as the New York Times, Washington Post,
Newsweek, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and
NPR have sought Saylor’s opinions. The Beverly joined Ashoka as the Vice President
Philadelphia Inquirer named a Saylor- of Global Marketing from Fleishman
maintained blog focused on the 2005-2006 Hillard, an international communications
reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT ACT, agency. At Fleishman, she built and helped
a “Web Winner.” Saylor has conducted manage their social issues portfolio, using
dozens of civic empowerment, advocacy and her expertise in "social marketing" as the
media relations trainings across the United foundation for the portfolio.
States.
Beverly's interest in social issues spans most
Marc Schneier  of her career. In the mid-seventies she was
Executive Director of the Minnesota
Association for Non-Smoker's Rights and
was instrumental in passing the nation's first
non-smoking in public places state law.

Subsequently, at the U.S. Center for Disease


Control, she helped design and manage the
first U.S. education/prevention campaign for
Rabbi Marc Schneier is a leading personality HIV/AIDS, "America Responds to AIDS"
and spokesperson for the Jewish community. and simultaneously directed the Office on
As one of the leading voices in the field of Smoking and Health's public information
intergroup and race relations, reconciliation function. In other lives, Bev developed an
and understanding, he is at the forefront of eye care project while at the American
the strengthening ties among the Jewish,
78
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Academy of Ophthalmology, with the sustainable environments for religious


Reagan White House, Apple Computers and freedom worldwide. After graduating from
the Mitre Corporation which supplied free Stanford, the Naval Postgraduate School,
eye care to indigent elderly (the project is and the Fletcher School for Law &
about to mark its 20th year of operation). Diplomacy, he the founded the The Review
She has worked globally on the problem of of Faith & International Affairs.
education reform, with an emphasis on
getting and retaining girls in school in With a recognized expertise in national and
developing countries, on civil society issues homeland security U.S. foreign policy,
and changing health and environmental Central & East Asia, humanitarian
behaviors when at the Academy for intervention, religion and international
Educational Development. affairs, Muslim-Christian relations, and
religious freedom, Seiple has appeared on
At Fleishman Hillard International BBC, MSNBC, Fox News, CN8, and CNN.
Communications she developed and directed His many speaking engagements have led
their domestic and international social him around the world, including Doha,
impact portfolio and was Project Director of Peshawar, Moscow, Hanoi, Oslo, and
the non-advertising portion of the Office of Beijing.
National Drug Control Policy's "Youth Anti-
Drug Media Campaign". Beverly has He is a member at the Council on Foreign
published articles and given numerous Relations (New York), the International
presentations around the world on social Institute for Strategic Studies (London), and
marketing and is dedicated to promoting the is Founder of IGE’s Council on Faith &
field. She is an Associate Editor of the International Affairs. He is the author of The
Social Marketing Quarterly and a Steering U.S. Military/NGO Relationship in
Committee Member of the annual Humanitarian Interventions and co-author
"Innovations in Social Marketing of a new book, International Religious
Conference". Freedom Advocacy: A Guide to
Organizations, Law, and NGOs.
The focus of Beverly's Master of Science
degree while at the University of Minnesota George Selim 
and the City University of New York was
behavioral science.

Chris Seiple 

George Selim is a policy advisor at the U.S.


Department of Homeland Security Office of
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. He co-
Chris Seiple, Ph.D., is the president of the
founded the National Security Internship
Institute for Global Engagement, a self-
(NSI), an intensive nine-week summer
professed "think-tank with legs" promoting

79
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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program that combines language, Middle Gerry Serotta 


Eastern studies, homeland security and
intelligence seminars, and on-the-job-
training at DHS or the FBI. Through this
internship, Selim helping to build the next
generation of Americans trained to combat
terrorist activities. He isn't doing it by
training soldiers, but instead by tapping into
a group of Arabic-speaking college students
who want a career in public service. Rabbi Gerald Serotta has been involved in
interfaith work through the Fellowship of
Reconciliation (beginning with a
Zakia Iman Shahbaz 
reconciliation mission in 1975 to Cairo,
Zakia Iman Shahbaz, an American, is a Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Palestine, and
retired elementary and art school teacher, Israel) and the Interfaith Committee for
with a Masters degree in Education and a Peace in the Middle East. He has a decades
Major in Art. She has taught in public and long record of activism in seeking solutions
private schools in USA, Bahrain, and to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, beginning
Sharjah, UAE, and has traveled to many in 1973 when he co-founded Breira; in 1980
countries in the Middle East, meeting and he was the Founding Co-Chair of New
befriending people of diverse backgrounds. Jewish Agenda.
Her dream of writing and illustrating stories Rabbi Serotta has been very active in
for children was awakened with the birth of community affairs throughout his career. He
her grandsons. She wants to present stories currently serves as Co-Chair of Rabbis for
that illustrate the everyday lives of Muslim Human Rights, North America. He is also a
children and families, the problems they Board Member of the Faith and Politics
have to confront, and present possible Institute, an interfaith, bi-partisan effort to
strategies for resolving them in a way that bring spiritual reflection to the work of the
both Muslms and non-muslims alike can US Congress. He has served on a numerous
appreciate. She is realizing this goal with the other Boards including those of Aleph:
publication of her first book, A Trophy for Alliance for Jewish Renewal and Tikkun
Bilal, and is looking forward to the release Magazine.
of her next book, A Medal for Nabila. Gerald Serotta is the Associate Rabbi at
Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland
Zakia founded the (Muslim Women Writers' and served as Campus Rabbi at The George
Workshop )MWWWI, in Sharjah, UAE in Washington University, where he directed
2005. She realized that Muslims need to the Hillel Foundation Director for 20 years.
write their own stories. MWWWI is a He recently completed a Sabbatical
networking, nurturing organization that assignment as Senior Rabbinic Scholar-in-
conducts monthly writing workshops, Residence at the Religious Action Center of
newsletters, and an annual folio. Reform Judaism. Rabbi Serotta served as a
university chaplain for 27 years. He is a past
chair of the Board of Chaplains at The
George Washington University and a past-
president of the Association of Jewish
Campus Professionals.

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His undergraduate degree is from Harvard of Islamic inheritance and Sadqa Jaaria.
and he has an honorary Doctorate (Doctor of
Divinity) degree from Hebrew Union
College, where he was ordained Rabbi in Zaid Shakir 
New York in 1974. He holds Masters
degrees from Hebrew Union College in
Hebrew Literature, and from New York
Theological Seminary in Pastoral
Counseling. He also did graduate work at
Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He has
been an instructor in the International
Conflict Resolution program at Eastern
Mennonite University.

Imam Zaid Shakir is amongst the most


Zulfiqar Ali Shah  respected and influential Islamic scholars in
the West. As an American Muslim who
came of age during the civil rights struggles,
Zulfiqar Ali Shah serves as the Director of he has brought both sensitivity about race
Religious Affairs at the Islamic Society of and poverty issues and scholarly discipline
Milwaukee. He has a Ph. D. in Theology to his faith-based work.
and Religious Studies, from the University
of Wales, UK. He has memorized the entire Born in Berkeley, California, he accepted
Arabic text of al-Qur’an since childhood. Islam in 1977 while serving in the United
He has taught as the full time faculty at the States Air Force. He obtained a BA with
International Islamic University, Islamabad, honors in International Relations at
Pakistan and, adjunct faculty at the American University in Washington D.C.
University of Wales, University of North and later earned his MA in Political Science
Florida, St. Thomas University and Florida at Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, he
Community College. He is the current led a successful campaign for disinvestment
Executive Director of the Fiqh Council of from South Africa, and co-founded a local
North America, which serves as the highest Islamic center, Masjid al-Huda.
Muslim jurisprudential body in North
America. He has been active in the After a year of studying Arabic in Cairo,
Interfaith Council, NCCJ and many other Egypt, he settled in New Haven,
ecumenical forums since 1992. Connecticut and continued his community
activism, co-founding Masjid al-Islam, the
Tri-State Muslim Education Initiative, and
Ahmed Shaikh  the Connecticut Muslim Coordinating
Ahmed Shaikh is an attorney and principal Committee. As Imam of Masjid al-Islam
at Ahmed Shaikh, a professional law from 1988 to 1994 he spear-headed a
Corporation based in Southern California. community renewal and grassroots anti-drug
Aside from his traditional practice focusing effort, and also taught political science and
on estate planning, trust and probate matters Arabic at Southern Connecticut State
in Southern California, Mr. Shaikh speaks University. He then left for Syria to pursue
regularly throughout the country on the issue
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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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his studies in the traditional Islamic American men who were/are arrested,
sciences. prosecuted and imprisoned for crimes. He
For seven years in Syria, and briefly in worked as a police officer in both African
Morocco, he immersed himself in an intense American and European communities. In
study of Arabic, Islamic law, Quranic 1995, he and his wife Esther established the
studies, and spirituality with some of the top South Shore Islamic Community Center
Muslim scholars of our age. In 2001, he
graduated from Syria’s prestigious Abu Since 1975, he has taught Islamic principles,
Noor University and returned to and the history and life of Prophet
Connecticut, serving again as the Imam of Muhammad. He also currently conducts
Masjid al-Islam, and writing and speaking Islamic prison ministry at Wilmot Arizona
frequently on a host of issues. That same State prison in Tucson. He is President and
year, his translation from Arabic into Founder of the Islamic Inmates Correctional
English of “The Heirs of the Prophets” was Association of America. The mission of this
published by Starlatch Press. organization is to Reduce prison violence,
and recidivism.
In 2003, he moved to Hayward, California
to serve as a scholar-in-residence and He is a graduate from the University of
lecturer at Zaytuna Institute, where he now Illinois at Chicago Circle Campus, BA.
teaches courses on Arabic, Islamic law, Majored in Administration of Criminal
history, and Islamic spirituality. In 2005, Justice; and Chicago State University, M.S.
Zaytuna Institute published “Scattered Majored in Corrections and Criminal
Pictures: Reflections of An American Justice.
Muslim” an anthology of diverse essays
penned by Zaid Shakir. In 2006, a  
translation from Arabic to English with
commentary of Al Muhasibi's "Treatise For  
The Seekers of Guidance" was published by
NID Publishers.
 
He is a frequent speaker at local and national
Muslim events and has emerged as one of Zaki Sherif 
the nation’s top Islamic scholars and a voice
of conscience for American Muslims and
non-Muslim.

Sidney Rahim Sharif 
Sidney Sharif worked as a police officer in
Dr. Sherif was born in Ethiopia and came to
the City of Chicago for 28 years from 1959
the USA as a young teen on a full academic
through 1988. Throughout his career, he
university scholarship. His professional
was concerned about crime and its costs in
career begins in the medical field as a
human suffering. In addition, he was
renowned scientist specializing in cancer
concerned about the extremely
genetics and molecular medicine; as a
disproportionate number of African

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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medical doctor with a keen interest in Osman A. Shinaishin 


oncology and cancer research; and as a
professor, teaching biochemistry, molecular
biology and cancer biology to medical and
graduate students at three top tier
universities in the Washington DC area.

Professor Sherif received numerous


scientific awards and recognitions for his
academic work including induction into the
Science and Technology Hall of Fame for
the discovery of two novel breast cancer O. A. Shinaishin is the Senior Program
genes. He has been awarded research grants Manager, for North Africa, Near East and
from national funding agencies including the South Asian the Office of International
National Institutes of Health, the National Science and Engineering at the US National
Science Foundation, the American Cancer Science Foundation. He was born in Egypt,
Society, the American Heart Association, graduated with a B.Sc. in Agricultural
the American Leukemia Society and Sciences from Cairo University in 1952,
numerous other agencies. Dr. Sherif also received a M.S. degree in Agricultural
received post-doctoral fellowships from Engineering from Michigan State University
Stanford, Georgetown and John Hopkins in 1960, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical
Universities. Engineering from the University of
California, Davis and Berkeley in 1965. He
Professor Sherif served as a medical and held positions at NSF since 1976 managing
health consultant for the United Nations as a programs with India and South Asia and
visiting scholar in Ethiopia, India, and then with the North Africa, Near East and
Thailand. He is well published and served South Asia. Prior to that he was Program
on the editorial board of many scientific Manager, Acoustics Unit at Mechanical
journals. He also sat on a number of Technology Inc. Albany, NY, and Program
committees that reviewed grant applications. Coordinator, Research & Development
Directorate, Environmental Protection
Dr. Sherif was president of the Muslim Agency. Earlier he worked as a Research
Students Association (MSA) at three Acoustics Engineer at the General Electric
different universities as an undergraduate Company R&D Center in New York and at
and graduate student. He currently heads the Boeing Company in Seattle,
Badr International Ethiopian Muslim Washington. He has also taught at Egyptian
organization headquartered in Washington Schools before going to the U.S.
DC. In his position as a leader in the Much of his publications is on dynamics,
Muslim community, he has given numerous acoustics, and since joining the NSF on the
speeches, delivered countless Friday status of scientific research in the
Qhutbas and conducted copious Da’awa developing world.
activities.

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

  commentary in a weekly radio program. Dr.


Siddiqi served as the President of ISNA
Muzammil Siddiqi  from 1996 - 2000.

Shazia Siddiqi 

Muzammil Siddiqi received his BA in


Islamic and Arabic Studies from the Islamic
University of Medina, Saudi Arabia and MA Shazia Siddiqi is an MA candidate in Art
in Theology from Birmingham University, Therapy and Community Counseling at
England and later went on to complete a Wayne State University. She is a member
degree in Comparative Religion at Harvard of the ISNA Majlis Youth Committee,
University. Currently, Dr. Siddiqi works as National Executive Director of the Muslim
an Educator and Religious Director of the Inter-Scholastic Tournament (MIST), and
Islamic Society of Orange County where he Chair of the Islamic Association of Greater
has served since 1981. Dr. Siddiqi also Detroit (IAGD)'s Community Affairs
serves as a member of the ISNA Majlis Ash- Committee.
Shura and Chairman of the Fiqh Council of
North America. He has served as chairman  
of the Religious Affairs Committee and has
been a member of the Board of Trustees of
the National American Islamic Trust  
(NAIT). As a member and now Chairman
of the Executive Board of Majlis al-Shura of Abdulkader Sinno 
Southern California, Dr. Siddiqi has
organized and participated in several
national and international Islamic
conferences on Sirah, Fiqh and Da'wah.
Because of his devotion to the preservation
of Islam in America, he has organized
numerous training programs for Muslim
adults and youth. He also lectures on Islam
and interfaith dialogue in North America
and abroad. He is the Vice President of the Abdulkader Sinno is an Assistant Professor
Academy of Judaic Christian and Islamic of Political Science and Middle Eastern
Studies at UCLA. Dr. Siddiqi has authored Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington,
books on Hajj & Umra, Ramadan and has and a 2009 Carnegie Scholar. He received
published many academic papers and his PhD from UCLA and was a CISAC
articles in encyclopedias and journals, as Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University.
well as his weekly column in Pakistan Link. His is author of Organizations at War in
Since 1982, he has provided Qur'an

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Afghanistan (2008) and Beyond and editor Cathy Sultan 


of Muslims in Western Politics (2009). He
is a fluent speaker of Arabic and French and
has knowledge of Hebrew. He has
researched and traveled extensively in the
Middle East, Europe and North Africa. He
teaches graduate and undergraduate courses
on Middle Eastern politics, politics of
Muslims in the West, conflict processes and
state building, research design, and Cathy Sultan was born, raised and educated
comparative politics. in Washington, D.C. In 1969 she moved to
Beirut, Lebanon with her Lebanese husband
Tabassum Siraj  and two small children. She led a tranquil
life, immersed in Lebanese culture, until
  civil war began in April 1975. She and her
family spent the next 8 years under the
  bombs and only returned to the United
States in 1983. Cathy’s memoir of her 14
years in Beirut, A Beirut Heart: One
Woman’s War, was published by Scarletta
Press in November 2005. USA Book News
Ms. Siraj provides support to USCRI as an awarded it Best Autobiography of 2006.
officer in USCRI's Matching Grant
Program. She supervises USCRI’s In March 2002, Cathy traveled to Jerusalem
volunteer and financial literacy programs. and the West Bank to better understand the
She began at USCRI as a refugee protection Israeli/Palestinian conflict. She interviewed
researcher and writer for the 2008 World Palestinians in refugee camps, teenagers,
Refugee Survey. Ms. Siraj earned a double teachers, businessmen, peace activists and
Master's in Public Policy and Arab Studies, Israeli soldiers. Her collection of interviews
along with a certificate in Refugee Studies was published in December 2003. A second
from Georgetown University. As a former edition of Israeli and Palestinian Voices: A
English instructor, Ms. Siraj taught college- Dialogue with Both Sides was published in
level as well as Advanced Placement April 2006.
English in the United States and Saudi
Arabia. Ms. Siraj has lived in India and In May 2008 Scarletta Press published
Saudi Arabia and speaks, reads, and writes Cathy’s latest book Tragedy in South
Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, and Urdu. Lebanon: The Israeli-Hezbollah War of
2006. Sultan sits on the Executive Board of
the National Peace Foundation. On behalf of
NPF she co-leads trips to Israel/Palestine
with Interfaith Peace Builders once a year.

85
Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Samina F. Sundas  Interfaith and Community Alliances, in


Washington, DC, from March 2006. A
naturalized American citizen, Dr. Syeed
obtained his Ph.D. in Sociolinguistics from
the Indiana University at Bloomington,
Indiana, in 1984. As President of the
Muslim Students Association of USA &
Canada (1980-1983), he pioneered its
transformation into the Islamic Society of
Samina F. Sundas is the founder and North America (ISNA). During 1984-1988,
Executive Director of the American Muslim he was Secretary General of the
Voice Foundation International Islamic Federation of Student
(www.amuslimvoice.com). Her focus is in Organizations (IIFSO) in which capacity he
youth leadership development, civic traveled widely through the former Soviet
engagement through volunteerism, Union, and Europe, Africa, Asia, the
immigration reform, protecting civil liberties Caribbean, and South America. Dr. Syeed
and constitutional rights for all, and has been General Secretary of the
community and peace building. She is Association of Muslim Social Scientists
committed to fostering friendships among (AMSS), a national professional
all Americans by bridging cultural and organization founded 31 years ago. Dr.
religious gaps. Her dream is to creating a Syeed, one of the founders of the quarterly
culture of peace, acceptance, mutual respect American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences
and harmony. She believes through (AJISS), served as its Editor-in-Chief (1984-
education and interaction we can build an 1994).
inclusive and beloved nation where all of us
feel safe and at home. Sundas, who has  
received over a dozen awards for
community and peace building, is a resident Mohammed T. Taher 
of Palo Alto, California .She is the proud
mother of two young adults, Misbah and
Saqib.

Sayyid M. Syeed 
Professor Taher is the President of North
American Educational Foundation (a not-
for-profit organization). He is the chief
architect of Babul-Ilm project - A Web
Resource for Weekend Islamic School. He
has served as the Principal of the Weekend
Islamic School, for last 17 years, at the
Islamic Foundation, Villa Park, Illinois.
Presently, he is the curriculum director and
Sayyid M. Syeed resumed responsibilities as has successfully developed and implemented
National Director of ISNA’s Office of

86
Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

the curriculum for grades Pre-school Asma Mobin­Uddin 


through 11, for the Weekend Islamic School.
He is a Senior Professor in the College of
Engineering & Science at DeVry University,
Addison, Illinois. He received his B.S. in
engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University, Hyderabad, India,
and his M.S. in Computer
Science/Networking from Northeastern
University, Chicago. His doctoral thesis is
on, “Impact of using computer simulation on Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin is a pediatrician,
students learning in a Technology based community activist, and award-winning
course”. He is the author of a popular book, author of children’s books about the
“A Guide to Reading Qur’an”. He is a Muslim-American experience. Her first
member of Phi Theta Kappa. book, My Name is Bilal, won the Paterson
Prize for Books for Young People and it was
Mobin Tawakkul  recognized in Best Books of the Year
listings from the Bank Street College of
Education and Cleveland Public Libraries.
Her second book, The Best Eid Ever, won
the 2008 Skipping Stones Honor Award, the
2008 Middle East Outreach Council Book
Award Honorable Mention, and was a 2009
Storytelling World Resource Awards Honor
Book.
Her third book, A Party in Ramadan, was
published in 2009 and is the story of a
Mobin Tawakkul created the Disability Muslim –American girl who attends a
Needs & Awareness Working Group (DNA- classmate’s party during Ramadan while she
WG) for a non-profit organization called is fasting so she has the challenge of
American Muslim Health Professionals participating in the fun while not being able
(AMHP). The goal of DNA-WG is to to share in the food and desserts.
empower the Muslim community to assist Currently serving her second term as
and serve the needs of individuals with President of CAIR-Ohio, Asma frequently
disabilities within an ethical framework writes about topics related to Islam and
grounded in Islamic tradition. He is Muslims. Her op ed columns have been
profoundly deaf and relies on a cochlear published in newspapers locally, across the
implant device. He has a background in United States, and internationally.
chemical engineering with a Master’s focus
on pharmaceutical operations. He received  
both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
from the University of Michigan. He is Omar Uddin 
currently working on drug product quality
issues for the Food & Drug Administration. Omar Uddin serves as President of Muslim
Youth of North America Northwest

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

University medical school; originally from President of the Muslim Students


Columbus, OH. Association of Atlanta, Georgia in 1970.
Later he served successively as Regional
Warith Deen Umar  Representative, Vice President, and
President (in 1975) of the Muslim Students
Association of the United States and Canada
(MSA).

Burton L. Visotzky 
Burton L. Visotzky, is a Conservative Rabbi
and professor at the Jewish Theological
Seminary (NY), who also studied moral
Imam Umar, ranking Chaplain for New development at Harvard University under
York's prison system for 25 years, founded Lawrence Kohlberg.
the National Association of Muslim He later applied the moral reasoning and
Chaplains. In 1975 he became one of the ethical relationship approach pioneered by
first two Muslims hired as full time Imams Kohlberg and Carol Gilligan to Ethics in the
in prisons in America. He helped build New Bible in his book The Genesis of Ethics,
York's Imam council. Umar advocated the 1997. This explored a modern incarnation of
hiring and assignment of Muslim religious the Jewish theological traditions of midrash,
workers throughout the U.S. He traveled to and built on Visotzky's experience leading
Mecca, Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, seminars in Manhattan with a mixed group
Turkey, Cyprus and Europe in his sojourn to of students, businessmen and professionals
study history, investigate world events first of various religious backgrounds.
hand, and spread the teaching of Islam. He Visotzky served as collaborator and on-
worked with rabbis, priests, ministers, and screen participant in Bill Moyers' ten-hour
imams to improve the life of our time. series, "Genesis: A Living Conversation"
(PBS, 1996). He also served as a principal
Iqbal Unus  consultant for DreamWorks 1998 film,
"Prince of Egypt."
He is engaged in Jewish-Christian-Muslim
dialogue internationally, in capitals such as
Washington; Warsaw; Rome; Cairo; Doha,
Qatar (where he was in the first group of
Jews invited to dialogue by the Emir); and
Madrid, Spain (where he was in the first
group of Jews invited by King Abdullah of
Iqbal Unus is the Headquarters Director of Saudi Arabia).
the International Institute of Islamic
Thought (IIIT), Director of Child
Development Fund (CDF), and Director of
IIFTIHAR-USA. He is the former Dean of
Students/Registrar at the School of Islamic
and Social Sciences (SISS) in Leesburg,
Virginia. His volunteer involvement in
Islamic work began in North America as the
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Speakers Accumulated Bios
46th Annual ISNA Convention

Miroslav Volf   

Siraj Wahhaj 

Miroslav Volf is an influential Christian


theologian and currently the Henry B.
Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Imam Siraj Wahhaj is the current Imam of
University Divinity School and Director of Masjid Al-Taqwa in Brooklyn, New York.
the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. He He received his training from Ummul Quran
has been a member in both the Episcopal University in Mecca and has become a
Church (USA) and the Evangelical Church world-renowned speaker on Islam. Imam
in Croatia. He is widely known for his Wahhaj has been on the ISNA Majlis Ash-
works on systematic theology, ethics, Shura since 1987 and has also previously
conflict resolution, and peace-making. served as ISNA Vice-President. He has been
Recently he contributed the essay, a member of ISNA's Planning Committee
"Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Justice" to and served as a member of the Board of
a new text on the atonement, Stricken by Advisors for North American Islamic Trust
God? Nonviolent Identification and the (NAIT) from 1989 to 1993. He is also a
Victory of Christ. member of the Board of Advisors for the
American Muslim Council (AMC). Imam
Volf was born in Osijek, Croatia, and Siraj has appeared on several national
studied at Evangelical-Theological Faculty, television talk shows and interviews;
Zagreb (B.A), Fuller Theological Seminary especially about his anti-drug campaigns in
(M.A) in Pasadena, California, and his native Bedford-Stuyvesant. He received
University of Tübingen, where he studied high praises from the media and NYPD for
under Jürgen Moltmann. initiating his anti-drug patrols in Brooklyn in
1988. Among other achievements, Imam
His book Exclusion and Embrace, was Wahhaj was the first person to give an
selected as among the 100 best religious Islamic invocation to the United States
books of the 20th Century by Christianity Congress in 1991.
Today. Volf is formerly a professor at
Fuller Theological Seminary

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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  Forbes magazine said, "If Warren's ministry


was a business it would be compared with
Khurrum Wahid  Dell, Google, or Starbucks in impact." Rick
and Kay Warren give away 90 percent of the
profits from their books to charitable causes,
including their global P.E.A.C.E. plan and
Acts of Mercy, which services those
infected with and affected by AIDS. Warren
gave the invocation at President Barack
Obama’s inauguration in January 2009.

Khurrum Wahid is an attorney and founding Jim Winkler 


partner in the law firm of Wahid, Vizcaino
& Maher LLP; a civil and criminal litigation
firm based in Florida. He has defended
individuals and organizations, including
successfully defending three innocent
Muslim medical students falsely accused of
terrorism in Florida on the anniversary of
the tragic events of 9/11. Khurrum has
testified on civil rights issues several times
before various government organizations,
including twice before the United States
Commission on Civil Rights.
As the General Secretary, Jim is the top
Rick Warren  executive at the United Methodist General
Board of Church and Society.

In 2006 he was heavily involved in the


“Declaration of Peace” movement, a
campaign that called for a prompt timetable
for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Mr. Winkler’s dedication to peace and
justice is paramount, as proven by his
willingness to be arrested in front of the
White House during a peaceful protest for
Rick Warren is often called "America's most
the Declaration of Peace.
influential spiritual leader." He founded
Saddleback Church in Orange County,
Jim has taken his passion for peaceful
California, which is now one of the largest
resolutions abroad as well, having led
and best-known churches in the world. He
delegations to the Middle East, Iraq and
also founded the Purpose Driven Movement,
Germany and traveled throughout the world
a network of tens of thousands of churches
with United Methodist’s efforts at justice
from all denominations in 160 countries. He
work in Africa, Asia and Europe.
has trained over 350,000 pastors worldwide.
Calling him a "spiritual entrepreneur,"
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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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Mr. Winkler is a member of the Justice and Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)


Advocacy Commission of the National certification from Housing University in
Council of Churches of the United States of 2006, Universal Design, Fair Housing &
America, a member of the steering ADA/ABA Guidelines from Harvard
committee of the Campaign for a National University in 2007 and Assistive
Health Plan, board member of the Faith and Technology Applications from California
Politics Institute, board member of the State University in 2008. Mohammed has
Churches for the Middle East Peace and a published several articles on disability
board member of Africa Action. In related topics; he has also contributed a
addition, he offers weekly commentary on book chapter for a book on disability and is
social issues through the board's weekly e- currently working on his own book on
newsletter Faith in Action. disability.

Mohammed Yousuf  HamzaYusuf  

Mohammed acquired polio at the age of 2


and could not go to school until he was
almost 12 years old. He walks with the help
of leg braces and crutches. He tried to find Shaykh HamzaYusuf was born in
solutions from many challenges and did not Washington State and raised in Northern
let obstacles get in the way of progressive California. In 1977, he became Muslim and
thinking and attaining independence. He subsequently traveled to the Muslim world
came to USA in 1990 and associated himself and studied for ten years in the U. A. E.,
with a number of disability related Saudi Arabia, as well as North and West
initiatives. He is the President and Founder Africa. He received teaching licenses in
of HelpHandicap Foundation, USA, a non- various Islamic subjects from several well-
profit organization that is working to known scholars in various countries. After
empower people with disabilities in India. ten years of studies abroad, he returned to
He is also an Accessibility Specialist and the USA and took degrees in Religious
Founder of AccessAgain LLC, USA, which Studies and Health Care. He has traveled all
provides accessibility, universal design and over the world giving talks on Islam. He
assistive technology solutions for people also founded Zaytuna Institute which has
with various disabilities. He received his established an international reputation for
bachelor’s degree in Electronics and presenting a classical picture of Islam in the
Communication Engineering from Osmania West and which is dedicated to the revival
University, India in 1988, a master’s degree of traditional study methods and the sciences
in Computer Engineering from the Wayne of Islam. Shaykh Hamza is the first
State University, USA in 1992, Certified American lecturer to teach in Morocco's

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Speakers Accumulated Bios
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prestigious and oldest University, the a well respected charity actively operating in
Karaouine in Fes. In addition, he has some of the poorest parts of the world.
translated into modern English several Yusuf’s latest album, Roadsinger, was
classical Arabic traditional texts and poems. released earlier this year to widespread
Shaykh Hamza currently resides in Northern critical acclaim. A stage musical based on
California with his wife and five children. his repertoire of songs, Moonshadow, is in
pre-production and set to open in London’s
Yusuf Islam West End in early 2010.

Safaa Zarzour 

Born Steven Demetre Georgiou, the son of a


Greek Cypriot father and Swedish mother, Safaa Zaraour is the President of the Council
Yusuf Islam grew up in the heart of of Islamic Schools in North America
London’s theatre district. From 1968-1979, (CISNA) and an associate attorney at the
he performed as Cat Stevens and was one of law firm of Odelson & Sterk. A well-known
the biggest solo artists of his generation, Muslim activist, he has served as the
penning such classics as Matthew & Son, Principal of Universal School in Chicago for
Moonshadow, Wild World and Father & over 10 years, is the Program Chair for the
Son and selling over 50 million LPs. ISNA Education Forum, serves as the
Following a bout of tuberculosis early on in Chairman for CAIR-Chicago and has
his career, he undertook an ongoing search spoken at a number of national and regional
for peace and spiritual truth. After almost conferences. He is a Member of the Village
drowning in the Pacific Ocean at Malibu he of Bridgeview Zoning Board and was
received a translation of the Qur'an from his elected as a member of the Bridgeview
elder brother, David. His quest for answers Public Library Board of Trustees. He is
was fulfilled and he embraced Islam in active with the Catholic-Muslim Education
1977. He changed his name to Yusuf Islam Project and Play for Peace. He is also the
and walked away from the music business to Vice-Chairman of the Universal School
start a new life and raise a family. Board of Directors.
His pioneering work in education and He is a frequent speaker at local and national
tireless support for humanitarian causes has Muslim events and has emerged as one of
received international recognition, including the nation’s top Islamic scholars and a voice
being honoured with the 'Man for Peace' of conscience for American Muslims and
award in 2004 by a committee of Nobel non-Muslims alike.
peace laureates; and more recently in
January 2007, the Mediterranean Prize for
Peace. Small Kindness, the U.N affiliated
NGO which Yusuf Islam founded in 2000, is

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