Summary of MFI Activities in 2009

• The Free Market Mojo website has published an interview with Minaret of Freedom Institute president Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad exploring the question of the compatibility of Islam and capitalism.
• We advised a newly graduated worker in the field of domestic rural development on how to combat distortions about Islam in Appalachia.
• Dr. Ahmad attended an open forum convened by Dr. Esam Omeish to discuss the development of the Muslim community in America.
• We discussed Muslim and libertarian concerns over the unconstitutionality of the census questionnaires with a representative of the census effort.

• Minaret of Freedom Institute president Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad was the featured speaker at an Encounter Islam breakfast program of the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation at St. Stephan’s Episcopal Church in Richmond VA.
• Dr. Ahmad gave a presentation on “Misconceptions About Islam” to young Latin American social entepreneurs at the Poder / Americas Business Council Foundation’s “Americas Forecast 2010-2020” convention in Miami.
• Dr. Ahmad wrote book review of Asma Afsaruddin’s The First Muslims for the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences.
• EBRU-TV mentioned Dr. Ahmad's speech on the importance of education to promote tolerance and peace in its coverage of the conference on Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace"at the University of Maryland College Park.

• Minaret of Freedom Institute president Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad gave a talk on "The Role of Education in Achieving World Peace" at a Rumi Forum panel on “Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace” at the University of Maryland.
• We were interviewed by Farspress on how to strategize for Afghanistan.
• Dr. Ahmad's paper on "Alternatives to Violence in Muslim History: Parallels to American Cases and Prospects for the Future" has been published in Citizenship, Security and Democracy: Muslim Engagement with the West.
• We were interviewed by the Swedish newspaper Nyheter24 on "Economic Reforms for Iran."
• Junior Fellow Alejandro Beutel and Dr. Ahmad gave a presentation on the implications of their systematic study of the pronouncements of Usama bin Ladin for U.S. foreign policy at an interagency brown bag lunch at USAID.
  

• Minaret of Freedom Institute president Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad spoke with Iran’s President Ahmadinejad about the Iranian elections at a luncheon in NYC.
• Dr. Ahmad spoke about tolerance in Islam at the Muslim Community Center’s iftar for Montgomery County Public Schools faculty and administration.
• We published “Freedom, Not Fashion, Is the Issue,” Khalid Blankenship’s rebuttal to Elham Manea’s criticism of Obama’s defense of Muslim women’s right to wear a headscarf on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad broached the subject of Somali pirates with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at a MAS reception for the Somali president.
• Dr. Ahmad addressed the Islamic Society of the Washington Area on “Improving the World” at their Lailat-ul-Qadr observance.
  

• Minaret of Freedom Institute president Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad gave a presentation on "Women in Islam: Hard Questions: Intelligent Answers" at a Halaqa circle in Germantown, MD.
• Alejandro Beutel and Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad's paper "Justification for Violence: Religion or Policies?: A Quantitative Content Analysis of bin Ladin's Statements" was submitted to the Middle East Journal and posted on our articles page
• Dr. Ahmad was interviewed on the Caravan radio program on Obama’s Ramadan message to Muslims.
• Dr. Ahmad discussed al-Ghazali’s letter on tolerance at a Ramadan iftar of the Children of Abraham and Aristotle.
• Imran Malik analyzed the Kurd Elections on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad’s interview on Jamaican Radio about Obama’s trip to the Middle East was posted online.
• We met with Rev. Bill Sachs of Richmond to discuss an “Encounter Islam” pilot project.
• Dr. Ahmad met with members of the Gulen movement Turkey on a Rumi Forum trip to Turkey.
• We advised the Atlas Economic Research Foundation on potential Muslim speakers.
• Dr. Ahmad represented the Minaret of Freedom Institute at an iftar with the Iranian Interests section of the Pakistan.

July 2009

• The July/August issue of Islamic Horizons Magazine features an article on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness by Dr. Ahmad.
• The inaugural meeting of the Islamic Resource Bank for the Directory of Policy Experts on Islamic studies and Muslim Affairs was held at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and covered by Atlas Economic Research Foundation Network News and by Rima Abdulhady of Russia Today’s Arabic service (posted online).
• Dr. Ahmad has published his responses to PressTV's inquiry about "A Window of Opportunity for Iran and the U.S." on our blog.
• We met with Francine Kiefer of the Christian Science Monitor’s Washington Bureau to discuss the Islamic Resource Bank and the work of the Minaret of Freedom Institute.
  
• Dr. Ahmad and Imran Malik discuss Fayyad’s Folly: Disarming His Own People on our blog.
• Imran Malik wrote a blog on Initiating the Stalled Peace Process Through a Settlement Freeze.
  
• We were interviewed by Elaine Gutu and Donimique Bivens on Muslim families in America.
  
• Dr. Ahmad has published his responses to PressTV's inquiry about "A Window of Opportunity for Iran and the U.S." on our blog.
• Imran Malik wrote a blog on "Repercussions of the Iranian Elections.
• Dr. Ahmad gave an introductory presentation on Islam at the Renaissance Weekend at Jackson Hole.
• We met with Hashim El-Tinay to discuss possible collaboration with Salam Sudan.
• Dr. Ahmad was interviewed by Ninie Syarkin on VoA on the activities of the Minaret of Freedom Institute.
• Dr. Ahmad participated in the IIIT summer institute.
• We collaborated with Jack Greenblatt in formulating a mutual Jewish-Palestinian statement aimed at being the foundation for a peace initiative.

June 2009

• The June 2009 issue of Economic Affairs on Islam and Market Economy, guest edited by Dr. Ahmad is on the stands.

• CSID posted Alejandro Beutel's and Dr. Ahmad's presentation, "Religious or Policy Justification for Violence?: A Quantitative Content Analysis of Bin Ladin’s Statements."

• Dr. Ahmad's was interviewed about Obama's trip to the Middle East on "The Evening Edition" Jamaican newstalk radio, available online

• Dr. Ahmad represented MFI at a lecture on "Global Financial Crisis and the Fate of Capitalism" by Dr. Necati Aydin at the Rumi Forum.

• Dr. Ahmad reported on a Capital Hill Panel discussing "Iranian Nukes: The Way Forward" on our blog.

• Imran Malik and Dr. Ahmad have posted an article on "The Prospect for Success Under McChrystal" on our blog.

• Dr. Ahmad has posted an article on "What's Next in the Middle East" on our blog.

• Imran Malik represented MFI Congressional Muslim Staffers Association Social, posted on our blog.

• Dr. Ahmad commented on "Obama’s Cairo Speech: A Defense of the Clinton-Bush Policies" on our blog

• Imran Malik offers some "Preliminary Thoughts on Ahmadinejad’s Re-election" on our blog.

• Dr. Ahmad was interviewed by El Mercurio on  "The Iranian Elections",  posted on our blog

• We advised the conveners of a conference in Dallas on Muslim engagement in public diplomacy.

• Dr. Ahmad spoke with Suhail Hishma on banking
• Dr. Ahmad was interviewed by Alex Sarotin of Radio Free Europe on  “home-grown terrorism.”
  

• Mauri Saalakhan's discussion on his book The Palestinian Holocaust, followed by commentary from Mohamed Nimer at one of our brown bag luncheons was posted on our videos page.

• Pecki Witonski's talk about her book The Cave of Reconciliation on reconciling the Jewish and Muslim narratives of religious history was posted on our videos page.

May 2009

• “Religious or Policy Justification for Violence?: A Quantitative Content Analysis of Bin Ladin’s Statements” at the annual meeting of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy.   
• We counseled Hussein Ezzeldin of the University of Maryland on an “Islam Awareness Year.”   
• Dr. Ahmad was interviewed by El Mercurio on "Expectations for the Obama-Netanyahu Meeting" Posted on our blog.
  
• T.O. Shanavas gave a brown bag lunch presentation on Evolution and Islam.   
• Alejandro Beutel and Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad presented the paper
• We met with Lt. Col. Sareda Hosein to discuss relations between the Muslim community and U.S. armed forces.    
• Dr. Ahmad was interviewed by Farspress on "The Crisis in Pakistan: Is There a Way Out?", posted on our blog.
  
• We were interviewed by Mounir Azzoui, a Ph.D. student from Germany on the Muslim Community in America for his dissertation.   
• We responded to an inquiry from Michelle Jeffress (Fund for American Studies) on Islamic Banking.   
• Dr. Ahmad and Alejandro Beutel attended an al-Waref conference on “Separation of Church and State” for the Muslim World.   
• We provide imput for an article for Egypt on the Future of Islam in the Middle East written by a Free Market advocate.   
• Dr. Ahmad spoke at the Rumi Forum Friendship dinner on the contributions of the Rumi Forum and MFI to interfaith dialog.   
•  We met with Michael Strong (a writer and entrepreneur) and Maggate Wade (a Senegalese entreppreneur) to discuss promotion of Minaret of Freedom Institute and possible collaboration.   
• We created a video page for the website adding Mohammed Nosseir's Q&A session on "Market Reform in Egypt" and Azzam Khamisi's talk “An Example of Peacemaking Through Forgiveness in Islam” to the existing videos.   
• We initiated a twitter account (click here to sign up for minaret_freedom at twitter.com.
  
• Imran Malik opined on "Obama's First Hundred Days" on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad has posted the article "Rape at Abu Ghuraib -- State of Denial" on our blog.
  
• Imran Malik has posted an article on why "More Nukes Are Counter-productive for Pakistan" on our blog.

April 2009

• Dr. Ahmad and Imran Malik posted a summary of Ahmad Moussalli’s talk  on"The Role of Wahabis in Salafi Thought" on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad’s interview on The Evening Edition in January discussing the comments President Obama directed to the Muslim world was posted to our website.   
• Dr. Ahmad posted the article ’"Why Cant We Have A Public Debate About Aid to Israel" on our blog.
• Imran Malik posted an analysis of the recent "Elections in Turkey" on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad and Imran Malik  posted the article "Marriage of Minors in Saudi Arabia: Is Betrothal Obsolete?" on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad Moussalli spoke on "The Role of Wahabis in Salafi Thought" at a brown bag lunch   
• Dr. Ahmad introduced Dr. Norman Finkelstein, who is speaking on "Palestine and Israel: Roots of Conflict and Prospects for Peace" at University of Maryland   
• Dr. Ahmad spoke at UMBC on April 6 on "Science in the Heavens."   
• Dr. Ahmad's talk on religion and science at the Metanexus Institute has been posted online  
• Dr. Ahmad spoke on Arab-American accomplishments at the Arab Heritage Month program at the Executive Office Building in Montgomery County, Maryland.    
• Azzam Khamisi spoke on “An Example of Peacemaking Through Forgiveness in Islam” for our brown bag lunch series.   
• Dr. Ahmad participated in a panel discussion of "Community-Based Approaches of Engaging Muslims in the U.S." meeting with Muslim visitors from Indonesia and the Philippines at the Prince Waleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding   
• Dr. Ahmad represented MFI at the Heritage Resource Bank in Los Angeles.   
• Dr. Ahmad represented MFI at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation liberty workshop in Los Angeles, meeting with representatives of free-market think tanks from Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, and Turkey.

March 2009

• MFI president Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad appeared on an episode of EBRU-TV's World Affairs on the "Financial Crisis."
• MFI program assistant Imran Malik attended "Pakistani-American Community Advocacy Day on the Hill."
• MFI junior fellow Alejandro Beutel testified in favor of SB256 (against domestic spying) in Annapolis.
• Dr. Ahmad appeared on an episode of EBRU-TV's World Affairs on the "Financial Crisis."Azim Noordin Khamisa spoke on "An Example of Peace Through Forgiveness in Islam" at a brown bag lunch.
• Dr. Ahmad's article "Thinking Through a U.S. Strategy Towards Gaza" was published on The American Muslim.
• Hatem Bazian's article Encourage Nonviolence Through Accountability was posted on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad's talk on the Qur'an and Science presented at the IIIT Summer Seminar was posted on our website.
• Ashrah Nubani gave a brown bag lunch presentation on the Sami al-Arian case

February 2009

• MFI president Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad gave a presentation about the Middle Eastern community to Montgomery County employees in Rockville, MD.
• Attorney Ashraf W. Nubani gave a brown bag lunch presentation on the latest developments in the trials of Sami Al-Arian and their implications for the civil liberties of Muslims in America.
• Dr. Ahmad posted his answers in an interview for the El Mercurio newspaper in Santiago Chile, "The Ross Appointment"on our blog.
• Imran Malik has answered the question "Are men and women considered equal in Islam?" on the Q&A section of our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad posted his summary of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding's panel discussion on "Obama in the Middle East" on our blog.
• Imran Malik has answered the question "Are Men and Women Considered Equal in Islam?" on the Q&A section of our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad was a panelist  on an episode of World Affairs (available online) entitled "Harmony of Civilizations"
• Kasia Rada has posted an article on "Freedom of Expression in Egypt, the Fountainhead of Reform" about arrest and release of Muslim and secular bloggers in Egypt on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad has posted his answers to questions from PressTV on "Why No Success in the Egyptian Mediated Negotiations?" on our blog.
• Dr. Ahmad's answers to El Mercurio on the appointment of Dennis Ross, available on our blog.
• Imran Malik has posted the article on "The Cost of Israeli Friendship" on our blog.