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

Party. The Renaissance Party is an Islamic political party whose principles and ideals have been
widely accepted by Tunisians. He continues to lead the party in exile in London, and writes prolifically.
Although seen as a radical in Tunisia he is respected throughout the world as a proponent of
Islamic democracy.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
al nahyan, his highness sheikh khalifa bin zayed
Al Nahyan is the president of one of the fastest growing nations in the world, the United Arab Emirates.
He has significant power over the direction that the Emirates go in and has very clear opinions
about Islam’s role in the economic development of the UAE, saying that women are accorded the
right to work where they please as long as they are accorded the right respect.
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POLITICAL
MIDDLE AFRICA
CHAD
bichara, ahmat ismael
Bichara is a 29-year-old Islamic spiritual leader. He is an influential figure with a small army of followers.
He was arrested in 2008 for threatening to launch a holy war against Christians and atheists
from Africa to Europe. Sixty-six of his followers were killed in a battle with Chad’s armed forces.
deby itno, his excellency president idriss
Deby is the president of Chad and the head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. He took power
in 1990, leading a predominantly Muslim army. Muslims make up around 55 percent of Chad’s
11 million people. He holds great domestic authority through his ability to consolidate power in
Chad. Chad was previously affected by a high frequency of coup d’états.
EAST AFRICA
SOMALIA
ahmed, his excellency president sheikh sharif sheikh
Ahmad is the ninth president of Somalia and former commander in chief of the Islamic Courts
Union—a previously militaristic organization that had significant control over the country, which
has now reformed into a Somalian political party. He was educated in sharia in Sudan and Libya.
He is a Hafiz al Qur’an and the spiritual leader of the Idriseeyah order of Sufi Islam in Somalia.
aweys, sheikh hassan dahir
Aweys is an influential Somali leader. He is a Salafi and the former head of the Shura Council of the
Islamic Courts Union of Somalia. In April 2009 Aweys returned to Somalia declaring a war on the
African Peace Keeping Forces (AMISOM). Although marginalized from mainstream Somali politics
he continues to enjoy significant support from the Al Shabbab resistance movement in Somalia.
WEST AFRICA
MALI
touré, his excellency president amadou toumani
Touré is the president of Mali. Mali has a 95 percent majority of Muslims. He overthrew the military
ruler, Moussa Traoré in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year. He won the
presidential elections in 2002, with a broad coalition of support and was easily re-elected in 2007.