the 500 most influential muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...
the 500 most influential muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...
the 500 most influential muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
HOUTHI REBELLION<br />
YEMEN<br />
houthi, abdul-malik<br />
Houthi is <strong>the</strong> leading figure in an insurgency in Sadah province in nor<strong>the</strong>rn Yemen which has<br />
been continuing from 2004 to <strong>the</strong> present day. <strong>The</strong> uprising has been called <strong>the</strong> Houthi Rebellion<br />
due to his leadership. <strong>The</strong> Zaidi community comprises around half of <strong>the</strong> population of Yemen,<br />
concentrated in <strong>the</strong> north. In traditional Zaidi religious belief if <strong>the</strong>re is no clear leader for <strong>the</strong><br />
Zaidi community a Caliph can emerge through armed struggle. Yemen was formerly under <strong>the</strong><br />
control of a Zaidi Caliph; <strong>the</strong> Zaidi Caliphate ended in 1962. His bro<strong>the</strong>rs Yahia Badreddin and<br />
Abdul-Karim are also leaders in <strong>the</strong> insurgency.<br />
GAZA SIEGE<br />
PALESTINE<br />
haniyah, ismail<br />
Haniyah is a senior political leader of Hamas and one of two disputed prime ministers of <strong>the</strong><br />
Palestinian National Authority, <strong>the</strong> matter being under political and legal dispute. President<br />
Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyah from office on 14 June 2007 at <strong>the</strong> height of <strong>the</strong> Fatah-Hamas<br />
conflict, but Haniyah did not acknowledge <strong>the</strong> decree and continues to exercise prime ministerial<br />
authority in <strong>the</strong> Gaza Strip. Haniyah was a key figure in Palestinian leadership during <strong>the</strong> Gaza<br />
siege.<br />
POVERTY<br />
BANGLADESH<br />
yunus, dr muhammad<br />
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi banker and economist, as well as <strong>the</strong> founder of Grameen<br />
Bank, and is known for his pioneering efforts in microcredit. He is a founding member of Global<br />
Elders, a group of global leaders dedicated to solving global problems, and serves on <strong>the</strong> board<br />
of directors of <strong>the</strong> United Nations Foundation, a public charity. Yunus was awarded <strong>the</strong> 2006<br />
Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to create economic and social development. His banking is not<br />
strictly sharia compliant since it is based around taking interest, but some commentators have<br />
called it sharia-based because of <strong>the</strong> pro-poor nature of <strong>the</strong> bank’s work. He is currently seeking<br />
an endowment to make a sharia compliant micro-credit institution.<br />
HIJAB RIGHTS<br />
BELGIUM<br />
ozdemir, mahinur<br />
Ozdemir is a young politician and Europe’s first hijab-wearing minister of parliament. She was<br />
sworn in to parliament, while wearing a headscarf, in Belgium. <strong>The</strong> event garnered mass interest in<br />
Turkey, where Merve Kavakçi was denied <strong>the</strong> right to swear her oath of office because of her hijab.<br />
Ozdemir is of Turkish origin. She is a member of <strong>the</strong> Francophone Christian Democrat party.<br />
168<br />
ISSUES OF THE DAY