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

ADMINISTRATIvE
INDONESIA
umar, dr nasaruddin
Nasaruddin is the director general of religious guidance at the ministry of religious affairs of
the Republic of Indonesia. He is also a rector of the Institute for Advanced Qur’anic Studies in
Indonesia and secretary general of the Nahdhatul Ulama Consultative Council.
SINGAPORE
ibrahim, his excellency dr yaqoob
Ibrahim is the current minister for the Environment and Water Resources and has held the position
of minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs since 2002. The lack of tension between Singapore’s Muslim
and non-Muslim community is testament to the nation's proactive efforts to create a cosmopolitan
society. He remains a very active member of the Muslim community; and is a member of the Association
of Muslim Professionals.
UZBEKISTAN
alemov, his eminence usman
Alemov is the chief mufti of Uzbekistan. He has had this position since 2006. He is respected for
his moderate stance and proven record in coping with extremists in the Samarkand region where
he was formerly a mufti. He was instrumental in making Tashkent the ISESCO Capital of Islamic
Culture for 2007.
EUROPE
ALBANIA
koci, hafiz sabri
Sabri Koci is chairman of the Muslim Committee in Albania, which is the country’s ruling Islamic
body. He spent 27 years in a prison labour camp under the communist rule during which he authored
many books about Islam. These works were so inspiring that he was elected as leader of
Albanian Muslims after his release.
mucha, haxhi selim
Haxhi Selim Mucha is president of the Islamic Community of Albania and the leader of Muslims
there. Albania is one of only a handful of Muslim majority countries in Europe.
AUSTRIA
baghajati, amina
Baghajati is the spokesperson for the Austrian Muslim Association (IGGIOe). She was the organizer
of the Conference of European Imams working with the Austrian foreign ministry to bring together
130 Muslim leaders from across Europe. The conference ended with a final declaration calling for
European Muslims to become more deeply integrated while preserving their identities.
shakfeh, annas
Shakfeh is the head of the Islamic Faith Community in Austria (IGGiOe). He has been president for
around a decade, building a close relationship with the Austrian state on community integration.
Shakfeh also leads the Islamic Education Authority. In 2008 he was decorated for his services to the
Republic of Austria by President Heinz Fischer.
BELARUS
sha’abanovic, sheikh abu baker
Belarusian mufti, and head of the Muslim Religious Organization of Belarus. There are about
20 Muslim communities all around Belarus. Sha’abanovic is currently building a mosque in the
capital, Minsk.
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