the 500 most influential muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...

POLITICAL
LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
gaddafi, his excellency colonel muammar
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, also known as Brother Leader of the Revolution of the Great Socialist
People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has been a central figure in the life of Libya since he seized power
there in a bloodless coup in 1969. His stature and longevity in global politics, as well as a significant
endowment to the World Islamic Call Society (Jamiat al Da’wa al Islamiya), make him one of the
most influential people in the world proselytizing for Islam. He is a key figure in Africa, as chairman
of the African Union, the leader of one Africa’s key da’wa movements, and was named King
of African Kings at a summit of Africa’s royalty.
PALESTINE
abbas, his excellency president mahmoud
Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, is a co-founder of Fatah, chairman of the Palestine Liberation
Organization and president of the Palestinian National Authority. Considered a moderate, he advocated
negotiations with Israel and initiated dialogue with Jewish and pacifist movements in the
1970s. Much was expected of his presidency of the Palestinian National Authority and his lack of
ability to offer any significant progress has diluted his influence both as a political leader and as a
peacemaker. However his position ensures that he remains a central figure in global politics.
haniyah, ismail
Haniyah is a senior political leader of Hamas and one of two disputed prime ministers of the Palestinian
Authority, a matter under political and legal dispute. After being dismissed by President
Mahmoud Abbas, Haniyah continued to exercise prime ministerial authority in the Gaza Strip.
Haniyah is a popular figure able to broaden the appeal of Hamas in Gazan politics.
SUDAN
al bashir, his excellency president omar
Al Bashir is the current president of Sudan and head of the National Congress Party. He came to
power in a coup in 1989 and has since instituted elements of sharia law throughout the country,
including in Christian and animist areas. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for al Bashir in 2009,
indicting him on five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer,
torture and rape) and two counts of war crimes (pillaging and intentionally directing attacks
against civilians).
SYRIA
al assad, his excellency president bashar
Al Assad is an Alawite Shi‘a and president of the Syrian Arab Republic. He has broad appeal as a
leader of a predominantly Muslim country through a number of reforms that he instituted. He
changed the law soon after taking office to allow the wearing of hijab in public schools. He also
began to allow soldiers to pray in mosques. Assad has also made an increasing amount of references
to Syria’s Islamic heritage in official speeches, signaling that Islam is not as feared as it once was by
the Syrian government.
TUNISIA
baccouche, his excellency prof. dr hedi
Dr Hedi Baccouche is former Tunisian Prime Minister (1987-1989). He has since gone on to become
a vocal figure in promoting dialogue, and in criticizing any interaction based on violence and division.
He was formerly the leader of the nationalist Neo-Destour Party, then party director of the
Destourian Socialist Party during the 1980s.
ghannoushi, rachid
Ghannoushi has influenced Tunisian politics since the 1980s when he founded the Renaissance
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