THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

Politicalwhich much of the Turkish electorate supports. He remains one of the most well-known Turkishpoliticians in the Muslim world.UNITED KINGDOMahmed, lord nazirNazir Ahmed is the first Muslim member of the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UnitedKingdom’s bicameral parliament. Membership is for life, and underlines the respect and trust heenjoys in the British establishment. Ahmed has worked on issues relating to Islam and Britain’sMuslim community. He also works internationally to promote dialogue and freedom of religion.ali, dr anas al shaikhAnas al Shaikh Ali is the chair of the small but dynamic Association of Muslim Social Scientists(AMSS) and the director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIT) London Office.The AMSS has been active in producing policy papers and publications on issues of concern to theUK’s Muslim population for many years, but was thrust into mainstream domestic politics afterthe events of 7 July, 2005 in London. Ali has been at the forefront of a number of internationalcampaigns for better relations between faiths, specifically in promoting the ‘A Common Word’initiative and also the fight against the demonization of Islam in media, founding the UK’s Forumagainst Islamophobia and Racism.warsi, lady sayeedaWarsi is the most senior Muslim in the Conservative Party. She is the Shadow Minister forCommunity Cohesion and Social Action, and a member of the shadow cabinet. She was part of thesuccessful mission by British Muslim politicians to Sudan to secure the release of an imprisonedBritish teacher in 2007.North AmericaUNITED STATESellison, representative keithKeith Ellison is the first Muslim to serve in the US Congress. He is serving his second term in theFifth Congressional District of Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives and alsoserves on the Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. Representative Ellison has beenan outspoken advocate for American Muslims and his trips to the Muslim world, such as a visit toPalestine in the aftermath of the Israeli attacks in 2009, have garnered international support for hisoutreach to the Muslim world.hussain, rashadRashad Hussain is the first Indian-American to be appointed Deputy Associate Counsel to thepresident; he was appointed by President Obama. He is a former trial attorney at the US Departmentof Justice, a former legislative assistant to the House Judiciary Committee, and a former editor ofthe Yale Law Journal. Hussain was subsequently named the US envoy to the Organization of theIslamic Conference, in March 2010. He is lauded for his balance of secular and religious leadershipas a young Muslim lawyer and Hafiz (one who has memorized the entire Qur’an), playing a keyrole in advising the American President on US-Muslim world affairs.114