April 29, 2021

Muhammed Aslan: Helping Those in Need Muhammed is a Turkish American Imam who works as a religious Chaplain in hospitals to try to help his patients in any way that he can.  I was born in Lezing, Turkey, I moved to the United States in 2014. As I said, I was born in Turkey, in […]

Sohail Hashmi: Reconciling Differences Between Cultures Sohail Hashmi is a self-described Liberal Muslim, born in Hyderabad, India, but raised in Savannah, Georgia.  He is currently a Professor in the International Relations Department at Mount Holyoke College, specializing in Political Islam and the study of jihad. In his story, he shares his personal journey in the

Farzana Doctor: The Global Issue of FGM Farzana is an author whose most recent novel tackles FGM and gender-based violence in the Dawoodi-Bohra community around the world and gives a platform for people to really understands both points of views of the issue.  So, Seven is a novel about forty year-old Sharifa who lives in

Isbah Ali Farzan: When a Bereaved Muslim Mother Receives Roses Three years ago Isbah Ali Farzan’s life completely changed. She moved from Pakistan to America with her then-husband and son, only to lose her son in a tragic accident a few months later and divorce her husband following. Although her life turned upside down, she

Lina Mohamed: Dreaming Big Lina Mohamed shares her story as an Ethiopian American with a diverse cultural heritage. Born in a small town in Texas, Lina was never afraid to pursue her dreams. She recalls her journey into the big city of New York, and how she hopes to make a difference in the lives

Simi Rahman: Igniting The Struggle For Moderation Dr. Simi Rahman holds an MBBS degree from the prestigious Aga Khan University Medical College, in Karachi, Pakistan, and Pediatric Residency at Jacobi Medical Center, The Bronx, New York. She is a mentor to 1st and 2nd Year medical students at the Keck School of Medicine, and trains future

Nausheen Rajan: Navigating Identity Nausheen Rajan is a member of the 2018-19 MALA Young Leaders Fellowship. Fellows participate in monthly digital seminars, dinner discussions, and other MALA events. As part of the program, Fellows reflect on their multiple layers of identities – as daughters, sons, professionals, athletes, and so much more – and share those reflections

Anxhela Ndrio: Challenging Boundaries for Universal Human Rights Anxhela grew up in Greece during a massive wave of immigration. Her memories of the unrest and bigotry that she observed during her upbringing have inspired her to become an advocate for human rights and equality. Anxhela’s story traces her journey from being a bystander, to a

Maryum Saifee: To End FGM, More Survivors Need to Speak Out This piece, which originally appeared in the Guardian, was written in the author’s personal capacity and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. government. Maryum Saifee is a career diplomat. Prior to joining the U.S. Foreign Service, Saifee worked

Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar, PhD, has a BA in History from Chatham College in Pennsylvania, an MA in Philosophy, an MA in Counseling Psychology and a Ph.D. in Educational Foundations. She is also a Nationally Certified Counselor. Dr. Bakhtiar has been practising Islam for over 30 years under her teacher, Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr. She is