Nihad Awad
Encyclopedia
Nihad Awad is the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR).
, a Palestinian
refugee camp
in Amman
, Jordan
. He studied at Second Amman Preparatory School for Boys, located at the camp and belongs to UNRWA, and at Salaheddine High School in Achrafieh in Jordan
. He moved to Italy
and later to the United States
to pursue his university studies.
at the University of Minnesota
in the 1990s, he worked at the University of Minnesota Medical Center
. After the Gulf War
, he was Public Relations Director for the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP).
In June 1994, IAP President Omar Ahmad
and others founded the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), and Awad was hired as the Executive Director. In a March 1994 speech at Barry University
, future CAIR Executive Director Awad said in response to an audience question about the various humanitarian efforts in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, "I am in support of the Hamas
movement more than the PLO... there are some [Hamas] radicals, we are not interested in those people.”
A few days after the September 11 attacks in 2001, Awad was one of a select group American Muslim leaders invited by the White House
to join President Bush in a press conference condemning the attacks and acts of anti-Muslim intolerance that followed.
He is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You
, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.
, at a United States House of Representatives
Appropriations sub-committee hearing. The letter said, in part, "I am pleased to send to Your Excellency in my name most solemn assurances of thanks and appreciation for the efforts you exert in the service of Islam, Muslims and all mankind through your initiative to teach Islam, spread the culture of Islam, and solve disputes, for which you are known internationally." CAIR spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, said that the organization didn't receive any money from the Libyan government.
Council on American-Islamic Relations
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is America's largest Muslim civil liberties advocacy organization that deals with civil advocacy and promotes human rights...
(CAIR).
Early life
Nihad Awad was born in Amman New CampAmman New Camp
Amman New Camp, locally known as Wihdat , is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in the world with a population of 380,443 registered refugees as of March, 2009. It was previously operated by the UNRWA but is now operated by Department of Palestinian Affairs.-External links and references:* ,...
, a Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
refugee camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
in Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. He studied at Second Amman Preparatory School for Boys, located at the camp and belongs to UNRWA, and at Salaheddine High School in Achrafieh in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. He moved to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and later to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to pursue his university studies.
Career
After studying civil engineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in the 1990s, he worked at the University of Minnesota Medical Center
University of Minnesota Medical Center
The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview is the main university hospital for the University of Minnesota Medical School. There are two campuses: one located on the East Bank of the Mississippi River, known as the University Campus, and the other located on the West Bank, known as the...
. After the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, he was Public Relations Director for the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP).
In June 1994, IAP President Omar Ahmad
Omar Ahmad
Omar Ahmad is the co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations , a Washington D.C.-based Muslim civil rights organization.He had been the chairman of CAIR's board of directors since its founding in 1994, but stepped down from that position in May 2005...
and others founded the Council on American-Islamic Relations
Council on American-Islamic Relations
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is America's largest Muslim civil liberties advocacy organization that deals with civil advocacy and promotes human rights...
(CAIR), and Awad was hired as the Executive Director. In a March 1994 speech at Barry University
Barry University
Barry University is a private, Catholic university, which was founded in 1940 in Miami Shores, Florida, a suburb north of Downtown Miami. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami....
, future CAIR Executive Director Awad said in response to an audience question about the various humanitarian efforts in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, "I am in support of the Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
movement more than the PLO... there are some [Hamas] radicals, we are not interested in those people.”
A few days after the September 11 attacks in 2001, Awad was one of a select group American Muslim leaders invited by the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
to join President Bush in a press conference condemning the attacks and acts of anti-Muslim intolerance that followed.
He is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You
A Common Word Between Us and You
A Common Word between Us and You is an open letter, dated 13 October 2007, from leaders of the Muslim faith to leaders of the Christian faith. It calls for peace between Muslims and Christians and tries to work for common ground and understanding among both faiths, in line with the Qur'anic...
, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.
Controversy
In April 2011, Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., cited from a fundraising letter sent from Awad to Libyan dictator Muammar GaddafiMuammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
, at a United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Appropriations sub-committee hearing. The letter said, in part, "I am pleased to send to Your Excellency in my name most solemn assurances of thanks and appreciation for the efforts you exert in the service of Islam, Muslims and all mankind through your initiative to teach Islam, spread the culture of Islam, and solve disputes, for which you are known internationally." CAIR spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, said that the organization didn't receive any money from the Libyan government.
Awards & honors
- The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre's "500 Most Influential Muslims 2009"
- Among 100 of the "World's Most Influential Arabs" for 2010 by Arabian BusinessArabian BusinessArabian Business is the Middle East's best selling weekly business magazine. The magazine focuses on the English and Arabic speaking communities and is published in both languages.-Arabian Business:Arabian Business is audited by BPA Worldwide...
magazine
External links
- Official website
- Nihad Awad on Charlie Rose
- CAIR's Care & American Muslims: Interview with Nihad Awad IslamOnline.net, retrieved on 19-03-2009.
- CAIR Board Members (Profiles) CAIR.com
- Nihad Awad profile on Arabian Business