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| American Islamic Congress: Leadership |
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We are led by a diverse group of young activists, all in their 20s and 30s. Many of our staffers have overcome obstacles to achieve success, and all are committed to taking action despite the risks. To arrange a media interview of speaking engagement, call +1.617.266.0080.
 Zainab Al-Suwaij, Executive Director
Granddaughter of Basra’s leading cleric, Zainab was one of the few women to join the failed 1991 intifada uprising against Saddam Hussein. She fled Iraq and eventually became an American citizen. Following the shock of the September 11 terror attacks, Zainab left her teaching position at Yale to co-found the AIC. An outspoken advocate for women’s equality and interfaith understanding, Zainab has published editorials in the three largest American newspapers: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. She has appeared on NPR, BBC, Al-Jazeera, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, and Fox. Over the past several years, Zainab has directed AIC’s women’s empowerment programs in southern Iraq, leading a grassroots team that operates without international security. She has testified to Congress, lectured at Harvard, and participated in interfaith events around the world. Named an “Ambassador of Peace” by the Interreligious and International Peace Council, Zainab has received Dialogue on Diversity’s Liberty Award and was recognized as “2006 International Person of the Year” by the National Liberty Museum.
 Nasser Weddady, Civil Rights Outreach Director
A native of Mauritania, Nasser grew up in Libya and Syria, traveling extensively through the Middle East, before coming to the US as a refugee in 2000. A few days after the September 11 attacks, Nasser was falsely detained by the FBI because of his ethnic appearance. A long-time activist in the struggle to end slavery in his homeland, Nasser has organized conferences for young activists across the Middle East; published in the International Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and Baltimore Sun; appeared on Fox’s Hannity & Colmes, BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, and Radio Liberty; and testified to Congress’ Human Rights Caucus. Fluent in five languages, Nasser has lectured at the US Institute of Peace, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and diverse interfaith settings.
 Jana El-Horr, International Peacebuilding Fellow
Jana served as AIC’s DC Program Director and currently contributes as a Peacebuilding Fellow while completing her doctorate. A native of Lebanon, Jana grew up in amidst the daily strife of civil war. In reaction, she became committed to nonviolent advocacy and interfaith dialogue. She is a founding member of the Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding in Lebanon and has also developed training materials on cultural diversity and minority rights for the Council of Europe. Jana leads AIC’s efforts to stop genocide in Darfur, partnering with interfaith groups and student activists; organizes AIC’s monthly Capitol Hill Distinguished Speakers Series; and assists Project Nur, AIC’s campus outreach initiative.
 Jesse Sage, HAMSA Program Director
Jesse directs the AIC’s Middle East civil rights initiative, HAMSA: Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance. A pioneer in the contemporary anti-slavery movement, he has worked with slavery survivors from around the world and built grassroots interfaith coalitions. Recognized by Fast Company Magazine as a “Fast 50” innovator and an“Upstander” by Facing History & Ourselves, Jesse has co-edited the anthology Enslaved (featuring a forward by Gloria Steinem), published in the International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal; and appeared on the BBC, NPR, and BET. He runs AIC's annual “Dream Deferred Essay Contest” and serves on the board of the Human & Civil Rights Organizations of America.
 Sana Saeed, Project Nur Campus Outreach Coordinator
Sana leads Project Nur, AIC campus outreach project mobilizing Muslim students at American universities. Her academic expertise focuses on the role of Muslim women in the conflict resolution, a topic she has lectured on at the Green Festival, the Salam Institute’s Annual Conference, and the University of Massachusetts. She previously worked with the Center on Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Sana leads AIC’s outreach efforts on campuses across the country, building a network of dynamic student leaders.
 Dalia Ziada, Egypt Office Director
A poet and translator based in Cairo, Dalia first came to AIC’s attention after participating in the “Dream Deferred Essay Contest” on civil rights. Dalia, who runs AIC’s office in Nasr City, is a survivor of female genital mutilation and a blogger-activist. As an organizer of solidarity campaigns for jailed bloggers, she has been interviewed by international media outlets and published in the International Herald Tribune. Dalia translates the bi-weekly CRIME Report on civil rights in the Middle East, an email alert distributed to young activists around the world.
 Jina Hassan, Communications Coordinator
A graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Jina coordinates AIC’s public outreach efforts. A Chicago-native with roots in Afghanistan, she has studied at the London School of Economics and the University of Padova. Prior to joining AIC, Jina gained journalism experience at the Women’s Health Magazine, ABC’s Chicago affiliate, and Center Stage. She works with reporters around the world to promote AIC’s unique mission, activists, and programs.
 Mohammed Harba, Muslim Film Festival Coordinator
Mohammed curates the AIC’s Muslim Film Festival and assists with interfaith outreach. A native of Babylon and a former Fulbright scholar, Harba has been profiled by NPR, The Boston Globe, and ABC News. Harba is an expert on modern Arabic cinema (particularly the depiction of female characters), which he currently teaches as part of the first ever Arabic class at Philips Andover Academy. A former intern with Harvard’s Pluralism Project, he was the first Iraqi Muslim to study the Holocaust at Boston’s Hebrew College. In 2001, inspired by a copy of the New Yorker smuggled into Iraq, Harba translated the short-story “Brokeback Mountain” into Arabic.
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