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

ADMINISTRATIVE
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
ghlamallah, his excellency bouabdellah
Ghlamallah is Algeria’s long-standing Minister of Waqf and Islamic Affairs, a position he has held
since the election of current President Bouteflika in 1999. He previously held high level positions in
the Ministry of Education throughout the 1980s and 1990s where he went from focusing on basic
education to the organization of Qur’anic schools and religious education. He maintains a strong
commitment to France’s Algerian Muslim community.
EGYPT
el baradei, his excellency dr mohammad
El Baradei is the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and a Nobel
Peace Prize laureate. Before working with the IAEA he was an international lawyer working with the
Egyptian diplomatic corps, and a career United Nations professional. His religion and his nationality
have given him significant weight when dealing with nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
IRAN
shahrestani, seyyed javad
Shahrestani is the envoy of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Iran. Many Iranians see Sistani as their
marja, and therefore pay khums (one fifth of their earnings) to him through Shahrestani. Shahrestani
is Sistani’s son-in-law.
sobhani, his eminence ayatollah jafar
Sobhani is a leading member of the Council of Mujtahids in the Seminary of Qom; one of the
two most important centers of learning in Twelver Shi’ism. He is the director of the Imam Sadiq
Institute, Iran. His work in all areas of the Islamic sciences is widely known and receives critical
attention. His is a prolific writer having published over 300 scholarly works.
vaez-tabasi, his eminence ayatollah abbas
Vaez-Tabasi is at the head of Iran’s single richest institution, the Holy Estate of Imam Reza. The Holy
Estate owns hundreds of companies, and resources. His revenue is supplemented by the donations
of the millions of pilgrims that make the journey to Mashhad, where Imam Reza (the eighth of the
Twelver Imams) is buried.
JORDAN
farhan, ishaq
Farhan is the leader of the Islamic Action Front (IAF). The IAF is the political arm of the Muslim
Brotherhood in Jordan. He is known as a moderate, and was an early advocate of the participation
of women in the movement.
hlayyel, his excellency justice prof. dr sheikh ahmad
Hlayyel is the Chief Islamic Justice of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He is also the Imam of
the Hashemite Court; former minister of religious affairs, and professor of the Qur’anic sciences.
LEBANON
daouk, amine m
Daouk is the head of the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association of Beirut. Makassed is one of
the oldest modern Islamic development organizations in Lebanon. It started as an initiative to make
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