On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, ADC Legal & Policy Director Abed Ayoub spoke on a panel at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University. The discussion was hosted by the Alliance for Practical Policy Solutions, and focused on how America can build better alliances with the global Muslim community.
The discussion sought to gain insight into the views and opinions of Muslim communities both in the United States and around the world. What is their perception of these extremist elements in their extended community? Why are we not seeing more of a vocal backlash among Muslim religious and political leaders against extremist groups? What is the appeal of these violent groups among some Muslims and what can be done to counter that appeal? What are the perceptions of Muslims regarding life in Western society? Are there any impediments to the integration of Muslim migrants into Western nations like America, France and Great Britain? And most importantly, how can America better cultivate alliances with Muslim communities around the world who share our desire to defeat extremism?
Speakers:
Shahed Amanullah: Shahed is co-founder of Affinis Labs, a Northern Virginia startup accelerator that uses hackathons to create innovative social impact initiatives and businesses. He previously served as Senior Technology Advisor at the US State Department, where he focused on building relationships with global Muslim youth communties.
Abed Ayoub: Abed is the Director of Legal and Policy Affairs at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). ADC is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage.
Nayyera Haq: Nayyera joined the Presidential Administration of Barack Obama in November 2008. She has held multiple White House, Department of State, and Department of Treasury positions, most recently serving as Senior Director of Cabinet Affairs. Nayyera is currently the CEO of Avicenna Strategy.