The 500 Most Influential Muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...

MEDIA
Middle East and North Africa
EGYPT
abulmagd, his excellency prof. dr kamal
Abulmagd is an important intellectual in Egypt and the wider Arab world, who holds significant
influence over media relations and public diplomacy in the Middle East. Shortly after September 11,
2001 Abulmagd was appointed the Commissioner Responsible for Dialogue Between Civilizations
by the Arab League. He is noted as one of the most influential ‘new Islamist’ thinkers. He was
previously Egypt’s information minister and is currently a professor of International law.
howeidy, dr fahmy
Howeidy is one of the leading columnists in the Arab world. He writes for the Egyptian daily Al
Ahram, where he is the deputy editor-in-chief, however his articles are syndicated to seven other
Arabic publications. Howeidy is influential both through his popularity and the fact that he has
highlighted issues concerning Muslim communities outside the Arab world in groundbreaking
work on Chinese, Bosnian, and Senegalese Muslims, among others. Muslims appreciate and
respond well to Howeidy’s use of Islam as a frame of reference in his articles.
schleifer, prof. dr suleiman abdallah
Abdallah Schleifer is a Middle East expert who has covered the region for over 30 years. He has
worked for NBC and many other international media outlets. A professor emeritus at the American
University in Cairo, Schleifer is considered a bridge-builder between cultures.
KUWAIT
al mutawa, jassem
Jassem al Mutawa is the president of Iqra satellite channel, an Islamic TV channel presenting
programs on everyday life problems concerning spiritual, cultural, social and economic issues
from a modern Islamic perspective.
al mutawa, dr naif
Naif al Mutawa is founder and CEO of Teshkeel Media Group and creator of the popular Islamicthemed
comic series ‘The 99’. In addition to having authored multiple children’s books, al Mutawa
holds a PhD in clinical psychology and has practiced in the field for many years.
sweidan, sheikh dr tariq
Tariq Sweidan is the CEO and owner of Gulf Innovation Group in Kuwait and the general manager
of Al Resalah Satellite TV. An entrepreneur and a TV personality—his shows ranking among the
highest in the Middle East—Sweidan is also prominent as a motivational speaker and author of
books on Islam.
PALESTINE
khanfar, waddah
Khanfar is the director general of the Al Jazeera network, a position he has held since 2006. He
began his career as a war correspondent and has been instrumental in carving out Al Jazeera’s
position as the most watched and most respected news network in the Middle East. The network
has recently expanded into other markets with Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera’s ethical decision
to interview Israeli officials has been groundbreaking in promoting the idea that all perspectives
should be broadcast on an Arabic-language news program.
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