Dr Jehad Al Farrah
Quranic Recitation

Jehad Al-Farra Born and raised in Homs, Syria 1960, and there he learned the Qurán recitation on the hands of Sheikh AbdulAziz oyun assoud may Allah swt bless his soul. In Homs he completed High School Education, and then traveled to Romania to study at the university of medicin and became a medical doctor in 1987. Then he went to yemen where he worked as a doctor for 3 yrs, and hereafter came to Denmark in 1991 and here he became a specialist in Orthopedic Surgery and in this current time he is working as a consultant on the Emergency Dep. of the University Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen. He is also the Chairman of Danish Islamic Council, Koordinator in Danish Islamic FuneralFoundation and Spokesperson for the future Copenhagen Mosque Projekt. He speaks 4 languages; arabic danish romanian and english.

Hon Bob Hawke
Former Prime Minister of Australia

Hon Bob Hawke was born on 9 December 1929 at Bordertown, South Australia. Mr Hawke joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in 1947 and was elected President of the ALP for the period 1973-1978. In 1980 he was elected to the Federal Parliament, and in February 1983 became the Leader of the Opposition. He led the Labor Party to victory in the general election in March 1983 and, in winning three successive elections, became Australia’s longest serving Labor Prime Minister. He ceased to be Prime Minister in December 1991 and resigned from the Parliament in February 1992.

Mr Hawke was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1979. He is an Honorary Fellow at the University College of Oxford, was presented with an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Western Australia, and holds honorary Doctorates from Nanjing University of China, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; the University of New South Wales; the University of South Australia; Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law, Oxford (Rhodes Trust centenary celebrations at Oxford University - 2003) and Hon Doctorate of Humanities, Rikkyo University, Tokyo (2003).

He was appointed Adjunct Professor in the Research Schools of Pacific Studies and Social Sciences at the Australian National University for the period 1992-1995 and Honorary Visiting Professor in Industrial Relations at the University of Sydney 1992-1997. Member of the Advisory Council of the Institute for International Studies at Stanford University 1992–1999. In March of 1999, Mr Hawke was granted the Freedom of the City of London.

In August 1994 he published The Hawke Memoirs.

Current honorary positions include: Member of the Board of Advisers of the Boao Forum for Asia; Chairman, The Hawke Research Institute Advisory Board at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, University of South Australia; Chairman of the Committee of Experts on Membership of the Education International; Chairman, Trade Union Education Foundation; Member of the Advisory Board, Deliberative Issues Australia; and Patron of Indigenous Engineering Aid.

HSH Prince Alfred oF Liechtenstein
International Peace Foundation

Educational and Academic Background

Master-degree in Computer Science, BA and Economics, University of Vienna. Studies in political science, systems theory, cybernetics, biology, philosophy and artificial intelligence. Training and courses in group dynamics, conflict resolution, conflict prevention and mediation, and various personal development programmes. Apprenticeship and journeyman's certificate in carpentry.

Professional Background

Since 1976 Chairman, CEO or Board Member in different companies in the fields of engineering, investment, trading, banking, and consulting. Adviser in international projects for development, intercultural co-operation and peace. Lecturer at international conferences, universities, organisations and in corporations; Concept development, organisation and moderation of international seminars and conferences. Designed interdisciplinary curricula for training of leaders.

Publications
Articles: about management theory, business, administration, education, media, new technologies, systems theory, politics, peace and future issues.

Books: Co-author of "Management by Evolution", "La sfida dell' epoca", Editor and Co-author of "Internet, the Public and Democracy".

Distinctions (selected list)
International Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award 1990, New York. Certificate of Appreciation from the Philippine Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Environment.
International Child Care Award 2001, Vienna.

Associations & Memberships (selected list - present and past)
Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science.
Member of TRANSCEND.
Member of the International Academy of Science.
Member of the Friends of the International Green Cross.
Member of General Evolution Research Group (GERG).
Member of the Austrian Societies for Computer Science, Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence.

Imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen
Secretary General DMA

Born in 1954 Converted to Islam in 1982 after having been raised as a Christian and following Hinduism for four years, besides being without a fixed religion for a number of years.

Has done all kinds of work from the factory floor to being principal and co-founder of Islamic private schools in Denmark. Has founded and run two Islamic charity organizations in Denmark. Is still the Secretary General of Danish Muslim Aid. Has participated in and initiated relief and development projects in numerous countries around the World.

Has been the cofounder of numerous Islamic organizations in Denmark and is presently the Vice President of Muslims in Dialogue.

Co-founder and during many years vice chairman of Islamic Christian Study-center in Copenhagen. Board member of Swedish Islamic Academy. Board member of Bridges Foundation.

Participates in Islamic conferences Worldwide as well as conferences on multi-religious basis.

One of the most quoted Islamic spokes-persons in Denmark during the past 18 years.

Translator of several Islam-books into Danish and the owner of the oldest Islamic bookshop in Denmark, Zahra Books. ... and maybe most important: The father of four wonderful children.

Jamal Badawi
Scholar

Dr. Jamal Badawi is “Professor Emeritus” at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where he served as Professor of both Management and Religious Studies. He completed his undergraduate studies in Cairo, Egypt and his Masters and Ph.D. degrees at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Dr. Badawi is the author of several works on Islam, including Gender Equity in Islam available on www.Soundvision.com and a 352-segment television series on Islam, now available under “Islamic Teachings” at www.Islamonline.net and other sites. In addition to his participation in lectures, seminars and interfaith dialogues in North America, Dr. Badawi has been frequently invited as guest speaker in nearly 30 other countries. He is a member of the Islamic Juridical [Fiqh] Council of North America, The European Council of Fatwa and Research and the International Union of Islamic Scholars. He has been serving as a volunteer Imam of the local Muslim community in Halifax since 1970.

Dr. Badawi is father of 5 children and grandfather of 16 [so far!]

Kamal Qureshi
MP, Denmark

Kamal Qureshi, born July 29th 1970 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, but has lived in Denmark since he was 4 years old.

Background:
Kamal Qureshi was first elected in November 2001 as the first member of the Danish parliament, the “Folketinget”, with a Pakistani background. He was re-elected in February 2005 and received a large number of direct votes. He is still the only Danish MP with a Pakistani background.

Kamal Qureshi is his party’s spokesperson on civil rights, integration and equality, and on health care, and is a member of his party’s executive committee.
Kamal Qureshi is his party’s representative in the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)
He has contributed to various publications on multiculturalism and equal rights and is a very active participant in the public debate in Denmark as well as a popular lecturer.

In the Danish public Kamal Qureshi is known as a straight forward, intelligent, eloquent and very committed politician and, drawing on his family background and culture, he is the originator of many projects and campaigns on cultural, religious and ethnic freedom and equality. He is also known for his never failing international outlook and commitment to the struggle against poverty and injustice worldwide.

Kamal Qureshi is married to Danish Katja Qureshi who is also an MD. Together they have three children, two girls and a boy. www.kamal.dk

KEN LIVINGSTON
Mayor of London
(Recorded Message)

Mestaoui Mohamed Slaheddine
Member of the Supreme Islamic Council

Born in December the 13th 1952 in Tataouine (south of Tunisia)

Occupied professions as

School teacher in high school in Ezzahra, Megrine, Sadiki and in the high university of theology (Zaitouna)
Official representative of mission in the prime minister cabinet
Manager of the Coran department in the prime minister
Counsellor of the prime minister
Secretary of state for the high Islamic council
Deputy member of out side relation committee
Member of RABITA CORAANIA

Cultural and worship activities

Imam of Megrine mosquet
Manager and chief editor of JAWHAR EL ISLAM magazine (from 1975 to 1986)
Producer of religious T.V and radio broadcasting ( 1988-2000)
Responsible for cultural pages in press ELHORIA , AL BAYAN
Official representative of the Tunisian framing community in France since 1990
Collaborates diverse religious publishing in EGYPT , UAE, SAOUDI ARABIA, MORROCO, LONDON
Expert in UNESCO , in MAJAMAA ALFIKH, JEDDAH
Member of MAJMAA ALTAKRIB BAYN AL MADAHIB, TAHRAN

Published books

Dialogue with a young seeking the truth
The Islam reorientation for the redemption of the individual and the society
Islam’s place in Tunisia in the new era
The Islam and cloning, Islam and member gifting
The Islam and tolerance, Islam and the west

Books just published

5 volumes on the research of the Islam guide mission Tunisian Muslim Royonnement in the past and the present
Important characters I’have known
Islam in the view of the western thought
Explication of Muatta
Ibn Arabi and his art

Mohamed Ali
CEO Islam Channel

Mohamed Ali, alongside his BA in politics, has studied Philosphy, theology and comparative Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) in addition to comparative fundamentals of belief (Aqeedah) in traditional schools of knowledge in Tehran. He is currently studying for a Phd in Islamic Political Thought. Mr Ali has memorized a good portion of the Qur’an and has attended circles of prominent scholars in Tunisa. He has also traveled extensively around the world, and worked for dawah and charity projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bosnia.

As the CEO of Islam Channel Mohamed Ali has proven himself to be a highly ambitious and successful entrepreneur. This relatively new enterprise offers an invaluable source of dawa (awareness raising for Islam), making Islam Channel the leading light, guiding the Muslim Community across the globe towards the path of Allah (SWT).

Mohamed Ali has recently launched ‘Islam Magazine’, a fresh and informative addition for the Muslim and non Muslim community. The CEO Mohamed Ali welcomes every one to join the family of Islam Channel.

Mr. Toger Seidenfaden
Chief Editor Politiken

Tøger Seidenfaden (1957) is Editor-in-Chief of the Danish daily newspaper "Politiken" since 1993. He has been Director General of TV2 (Danish national television) 1992-93, Editor-in-Chief of the national weekly "Weekendavisen Berlingske" 1987-92, Foreign Affairs Editor of "Weekendavisen Berlingske" 1985-87, and Secretary of the Danish Government's Security and Disarmament Committee 1984-85. He has taught at Aarhus and Copenhagen Universities in Denmark, Yale University in the United States, and the NATO Defence College, Italy. Mr. Seidenfaden is the author of "Europe Made Whole" (1991), and a contributor to various publications on European political, security and defence issues. He received a Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies in International Politics from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris, and an M.A. in Political Science from Aarhus University. Mr. Seidenfaden also holds a Master of Philosophy in Political Science from Yale University.

Mr. Seidenfaden is member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (London) since 1985, member of Bilderberg Steering Committee and Advisory Group 1994 – 2003, chairman of Københavns Redaktørforening (Association of Editors) from 2004 and member of The Trilateral Commissions Executive Committee from 2005

Phil Rees
BBC Producer & Director

For the past 20 years, Phil Rees has covered Asia and the Middle East for the BBC’s current affairs’ department. As a filmmaker and correspondent he has made more than thirty documentaries. He has won more than a dozen international awards, including two from the Royal Television Society for best foreign affairs documentary (1994 & 1998).

Rees remains the only western journalist to have travelled and filmed with Algeria’s Islamic militants. His 1994 film, Algeria’s Hidden War revealed the scale of a conflict that has claimed over 100,000 lives and is rarely glimpsed by the outside world. The film won awards in London, as well as the New York and Monte Carlo film festivals.

Rees won the Silver Nymph at the 1998 Monte Carlo Television Festival for his film on the war in Kashmir. With unique access to the armies of both India and Pakistan, The Unfinished War told the story of a conflict that has continued for half century between two nations that are now nuclear powers.

His reporting on the war in Kosovo in 1998 won him a Prix Bayeux Des Correspondents de Guerre award. His film, The Serbs’ Last Stand, won that year’s Royal Television Society award for best foreign affairs documentary. The film also won a Silver medal at the 1998 New York Television Festival.

Rees covered extensively the conflict in Afghanistan during the late 1980s. He filmed frontline fighting with both the Soviet backed regime in Kabul, and the mujahedeen guerrillas. He was with the group of BBC journalists who were the first to enter Kabul when the Taliban fled in November 2001.

Phil Rees graduated from Oxford University and joined the BBC in 1982 as a trainee journalist. Rees has also written for the New Statesman, Sunday Times, Independent, Guardian and numerous other publications. His first book, Dining with Terrorists, a critique of the ‘war on terrorism’, was published by Macmillan and the paperback is in the shops from May 2006.

Professor Jorgen Baek Simonsen


Associate Professor at the Carsten Niebuhr Department, Institute for Transncultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen. He has conducted research on Islam and Muslims in Denmark and Europe since the early 1990´s and published extensively on the subject. He was Director of the Danish Institute in Damascus from 2001 to 2005.

Rune Engelbreth Larsen
Historian

Rune Engelbreth Larsen is a very active participant in the daily debate in Denmark. A regular writer in several newspapers, a highly renowned speaker and the author of a number of books on contemporary topics, he is a voice not easily sidestepped. His sharp pen and remarkable ability to penetrate to the core of matters has won him a reputation amongs his critics as somebody you don't want to split hairs with. Mr. Larsen has always been known for speaking the voice of the weaker, downtrodden or disliked minorities. He is a ferocious verbal fighter, a skilled researcher and humble as few.

Sheikh Ahmed Abu Laban


Born 1946 in Jaffa, Palestine.

His family migrated in 1948 to Egypt,where he was raised up.

1969 Graduated as Mechanical Engineer.

Completed his informal education in Islamic theology under the supervision of prominent scholar in different Muslim countries.

Experience in oil industry i Gulf 1970-1982. Then in construction company from 1982 to 1984 in Nigeria.

Courses in administration, sociology, pedagogy, and psychology during his work in oil industry.

Religious adviser for the Muslim organisation ”Det lslamiske Trossamfund for indvandrere fundamental service” in Denmark. www.wakf.com

Adviser for IPU, Undersøgelsesgruppe for Indvandrere Pædagogik og Uddannelse. Immigrants reseach group for Education and pedagogywww.ipu2000.dk

Adviser for ”Munida, Muslimsk Ungdom i Danmark”. Muslim Youth in Denmark

Co-Researcher in the social and psychological issues of Ethic communities in Europe.

Member of the European council of Imams.

Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Musleh
Director General of the Panel of Scientific Miracles in the Quran and Sunnah

Established the branch of Al-Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Abha and was its rector from the year 1396 H., until 1415H.

Dean of the Faculty of Shari'ah and Principles of Religion at the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in addition to his work as rector of the University's branch in Abha.

Established the Islamic Economics Division at the Faculty.

Director General of the Panel of Scientific Miracles in the Quran and Sunnah

Published several researches and books including:
o Private Ownership under Islamic Shari'ah compared with Contemporary Trends.
o Restrictions on Private Ownership under Islamic Shari'ah
o Murabaha from Figh (Jurisprudence) Heritage to Contemporary Applications in Islamic Banks
o Compendium of provisions of leasing and sharikah provisions.

Vr. Revd. Anders Gadegaard
Dean of Copenhagen Cathedral

Birth: 23 09 1952

January 1981, Master of Theology, University of Copenhagen
Sept. 1981 – June 1982, Postgraduate studies, United Theological College, Bangalore, South India
1982 – 1983, Lecturer, Systematic Theology, University of Copenhagen
1983 – 1998, Congregational pastor, Church of Sion, Copenhagen East
1988 – 2003, Member of Board of Danchurchaid, 2000-2003, Treasurer of Danchurchaid
Since 1989: Participating in the work to support asylumseekers and refugees in Denmark through the organization: ”Refugees Underground”
1994 – 1998, Deputy Chairman, Interchurch Council of The Danish Peoples’ Church
Since 1998: Member of Centralcommittee and Executive Committee of The World Council of Churches, Geneva
Since 2004: Moderator of The Finance Committee of The World Council of Churches

Yusuf Estas
Scholar, USA

Yusuf Estes was born into a Christian family in the Midwest and relocated to Houston, Texas, in 1949. Estes was once a Christian preacher and involved in gospel music.

Estes became interested in the variety of religious music from different faiths and converted to Islam in 1991. He now is the national chaplain for American Muslims and travels throughout the country and the world to educate and communicate the message of Islam. Yusuf Estes’ teachings are distributed on video and audio media worldwide.

Yvonne Ridley
Political Editor Islam Channel

As a British-born, award-winning journalist Yvonne Ridley is well known in the Muslim world for her outspoken views and defence of Islam. She endeared herself to the Muslim community in Britain when she reverted to Islam 30 months after making international headlines when she was captured by the Taleban on an undercover journalistic assignment in Afghanistan.

Sr Yvonne was Chief Reporter of the Sunday Express at the time, having spent nearly 10 years in Fleet Street working for several prestigious titles including The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Daily Mirror and The Independent on Sunday. She set out as a regional journalist nearly 30 years ago in her native North East. She has also worked as a broadcaster, producer and presenter on programmes for BBC TV and radio, CNN, ITN and Carlton TV travelling to Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine.

A founder member of Women in Journalism, Sr Yvonne is a promoter of women’s rights, and is also a founder member of the Stop The War Coaltion and the RESPECT political party. In her spare time Sr Yvonne travels throughout the UK and across the globe promoting peace and the anti-war message. She has also delivered lectures on issues relating to Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Kashmir and Uzbekistan, Women in Islam, the War on Terror and Journalism at Ivy League universities across the US, Australia, South Africa and the Middle East.

Sr Yvonne is a founder member of the Friends of Islam, an All Party Parliamentary Group and a member of the National Union of Journalists and the Society of Authors. She has written two books called In The Hands of the Taleban and Ticket to Paradise and is currently writing and researching for two other titles including a biography of Usama bin Ladin. Sr Yvonne is a patron of the UK-based pressure groups Stop Political Terror and Hhugs. She also devotes much of her time to humanitarian work and is a Goodwill Ambassador for the charities Helping Hands and Doctors for Iraq.

Zareen Roohi Ahmed
CEO British Muslim Forum

Coming Soon!