Muslim World Initiative

Advisory Committee on U.S.-Muslim World Relations: Participating Institutions

• Overview
• Complete List of Members
• Select Member Biographies
• Research and Media Products

Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID)

Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, President
Dr. Asma Afsaruddin, Board of Directors

The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) was started in 1999 by a group of Muslim and non-Muslim scholars, policy makers, and activists to examine the relationship between Islam and democracy. CSID has held workshops and international conferences in Nigeria, Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Iran, Jordan, Turkey, Algeria, Bahrain, and many other countries. Each of these workshops and events featured not only top policy makers but also leading Islamic scholars, secularists, and democracy advocates. CSID believes its success lies in inviting all to the table, including moderate Islamists (who are open to dialogue) and secularists.

As a U.S.-based think tank with strong ties to academics, activists, and institutions in the Muslim world, CSID is extremely well positioned to foster the development of democratic thought and institutions in an Islamic context.

Our outreach demonstrates the fundamental compatibility of democratic and Islamic principles. Our organization has a stellar complement of Muslim and non-Muslim presenters who speak in a cultural vernacular more persuasive to the political and religious leaders of the Muslim world than programs which attempt to export Western democracy in Western terms.

CSID is committed to the long-term project of educating the masses, leaders of the civil society, and government leaders in the Muslim world about democracy, and planting the seeds for a future where all Muslim societies can enjoy the fruits of democracy and good governance. CSID realizes that, by having the majority of the organizers and discussion leaders as Muslims, our program demonstrates the message that there is nothing 'alien' to Islam about democracy, human rights, and rule of law.

The Arab-Western Summit of Skills

Mr. Hady Amr, Co-President

Mr. Hady Amr is a thought leader in U.S. relations with the Muslim world. He is currently a fellow in foreign policy studies at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution and director of the Brookings Center in Doha, Qatar. He served as a Clinton appointee at the U.S. Department of Defense, helping launch the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. Prior to joining Brookings, he managed an independent consulting practice, the Amr Group, and served as the Executive Director of World Links Arab Region and created a Board of Directors that included Queen Rania of Jordan. He currently serves as co-president of the Board of the Arab Western Summit of Skills.

Mr. Amr is the author of an analysis report by the Brookings Institution entitled "The Need to Communicate: How to Improve U.S. Public Diplomacy with the Islamic World" and has also been published in Newsweek and the International Herald Tribune. A former World Bank economist, he has also authored several United Nations reports such as "The State of the Arab Child." Mr. Amr has appeared on arabic television broadcasts and on the BBC. After 9/11, he conducted 100 discussions and focus groups across the Muslim world. In 1994, he earned a Masters in Economics and Public and International Affairs from Princeton University. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dialogues: Islamic World - U.S. - The West, Remarque Institute, New York University

Dr. Mustapha Tlili, Founder and Director

A program of New York University’s Remarque Institute, Dialogues: Islamic World-U.S. - The West was established three years ago at the World Policy Institute of New School University in response to the tragedy of September 11, 2001, which highlighted the urgent need for greater communication among and about the Islamic World, the United States, and the West at large. The failure of the media to explain the roots and background of Islamic political and social movements demonstrated a widespread lack of understanding of the complex world of Islam—especially in the U.S. The program was launched as a structured forum for sustained dialogue involving voices from the various religious, intellectual, economic, and political sectors of Islamic and American/Western societies, including those non-elite Islamic figures with proven credibility in their communities who are too often unheard in the West.

Dialogues is funded by Carnegie Corporation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the State of Qatar. The conference in Granada received additional support from the Spanish foundation El Legado Andalusí, while the Amman workshop on Islam and elections was funded in large part by Majlis El Hassan, the non-governmental organization of His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council

Ahmed Younis, National Director

The Muslim Public Affairs Council was founded in 1988 as an American Muslim representation and interface with government and the public. As a policy, MPAC has never accepted funding from sources outside of the United States. MPAC believes that there is neither dissonance nor friction between the founding principles of Islam and those of the United States. MPAC is a policy-oriented organization as opposed to a grassroots civil rights one; consequently MPAC works to create opportunities for constructive engagement with the US government. MPACs newsletters and press releases go out to more than 8,000 people as well as all representatives of government in Washington.

Over the years MPAC has met with a large array of government officials including Presidents George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W Bush. MPAC has also worked closely with the departments of State (foreign policy/ public diplomacy), Treasury (terrorist financing), Homeland Security (effective counterterrorism policy) etc. MPAC frequently publishes Policy Papers such as its Counterterrorism Policy: An American Muslim Perspective, and institutes campaigns such as the National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism. MPAC leadership serves frequently as speakers and guests on most major national media outlets including CNN, FOXNEWS, MSNBC, PBS and others.

Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)

Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, Executive Director

ISNA is an association of Muslim organizations and individuals that provides a common platform for presenting Islam, supporting Muslim communities, developing educational, social and outreach programs and fostering good relations with other religious communities, and civic and service organizations. The goals include: Imam Training and Leadership Development; Involvement of Youth; Interfaith and Coalition Building; and Community; Development.

The Annual ISNA Convention is the largest gathering of Muslims in North America. This Convention brings together more than 40,000 attendees that include individuals, families, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and people of other faiths. Other ISNA conferences encompass issues such as:

• Islam in America
• Islamic Education Forum
• Muslims against Domestic Violence
• Islam among Latino Americans
• Muslim Refugees in America
• Muslim Youth of North America

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Dr. Nihad Awad, CAIR Director

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a non-profit, grassroots membership, organization, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. Since its establishment in 1994, CAIR was established to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America. CAIR is dedicated to presenting an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to the American public through media relations, lobbying, education and advocacy. In offering that perspective, the organization seeks to empower the Muslim community in America through political and social activism.

CAIR is active in monitoring legislation and government activities and then responding on behalf of the American Muslim community. CAIR representatives have testified before Congress and have sponsored a number of activities designed to bring Muslim concerns to Capitol Hill. The Civil Rights Department counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation or hate crimes, while its research division conducts empirical research studies on subjects relevant to the American Muslim community, including gathering and analyzing data for the annual civil rights report.