THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

PoliticalPalestinian National Authority, a matter under political and legal dispute. After being dismissed byPresident Mahmoud Abbas, Haniyah continued to exercise prime ministerial authority in the GazaStrip. Haniyah is a popular figure able to broaden the appeal of Hamas in Gazan politics.SUDANal bashir, his excellency president omarAl Bashir is the current president of Sudan and head of the National Congress Party. He came topower in a coup in 1989 and has since instituted elements of sharia law throughout the country,including in Christian and animist areas. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for al Bashir in 2009,indicting him on five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer,torture and rape) and two counts of war crimes (pillaging and intentionally directing attacksagainst civilians).SYRIAal assad, his excellency president basharAl Assad is an Alawite Shi’a and president of the Syrian Arab Republic. He has broad appeal as aleader of a predominantly Muslim country through a number of reforms that he instituted. Hechanged the law soon after taking office to allow the wearing of hijab in public schools. He alsobegan permitting soldiers to pray in mosques. Assad has made an increasing amount of referencesto Syria’s Islamic heritage in official speeches, signaling that Islam is not as feared as it once was bythe Syrian government.TUNISIAghannushi, rashidGhannoushi has influenced Tunisian politics since the 1980s when he founded the RenaissanceParty. The Renaissance Party is an Islamic political party whose principles and ideals have beenwidely accepted by Tunisians. Ghannoushi continues to lead the party in exile in London, andwrites prolifically. Although seen as a radical in Tunisia, he is respected throughout the world as aproponent of Islamic democracy.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESal maktoum, his highness amir sheikh mohammed bin rashid [2009:21]Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is the Ruler of Dubai and the Prime Minister of theUnited Arab Emirates. Although his influence has ebbed, especially in light of the financial crisisand national debt facing Dubai and its major investment company, Dubai World, al Maktoum isa well-respected politician in the Middle East. He has launched multiple charity initiatives fromDubai, such as ‘Dubai Cares’ which has donated over $910 million to youth education initiatives inimpoverished countries since its inception in 2007.al nahyan, his highness sheikh khalifa bin zayedAl Nahyan is the president of one of the fastest-growing nations in the world, the United ArabEmirates. He has significant power over the direction in which the Emirates go and has very clearopinions about Islam’s role in the economic development of the UAE, saying that women areaccorded the right to work where they please as long as a respectful environment is maintained.Under his leadership, the UAE has seen significant economic growth and the renaming of the BurjDubai to Burj Khalifa is considered a symbol of Al Nahyan’s financial power.Middle AfricaCHADdeby itno, his excellency president idrissDeby is the president of Chad and the head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. He took powerin 1990, leading a predominantly Muslim army. Muslims make up around 55 percent of Chad’s 11109