Zead Ramadan
Board President

Zead Ramadan is the founding board Chair of the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center as well as the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance. He served for 15 years on Community Board 12 Manhattan, where he was Chair for 2 years. He served on the Executive Committees of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and the West Harlem Development Corp., as well as the Washington Heights and Inwood Chamber of Commerce. He is also a trustee of the Hudson Valley Islamic Community Center, and their representative to various interfaith associations.

Hassan Ahmad
Co-Vice President / Exec. Board Member

Hassan Ahmad graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 2004, and is a founding partner of his downtown Manhattan law firm, Ahmad Naqvi Rodriguez, LLP. While in law school, Mr. Ahmad worked for Bronx County Supreme Court Justice Caesar Cirigliano, the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, and was awarded the CALI award for Excellence in Criminal Trial Advocacy.

Upon graduating, Mr. Ahmad began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. He served the people of New York for five years, successfully prosecuting hundreds of cases. The Honorable District Attorney Charles Hynes appointed Mr. Ahmad to serve on a committee to promote tolerance and understanding amongs the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities in Brooklyn.

At Ahmad Naqvi Rodriguez, LLP, Mr. Ahmad handles both State and Federal Criminal Defense cases, provides extensive investigation counseling regarding NYPD and FBI interviews, and represents clients in Employment Discrimination, Family Law, and Civil Rights matters.

Mr. Ahmad is licensed to practice law in all of the State Courts of New York and New Jersey, as well as the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York.

Burak Firik
Board Member

Burak Firik graduated from Columbia University Fu School of Engineering and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a visiting student for a Computer Science degree. Upon graduation, he worked in several tech start ups and also large companies such as Intelligent Business Machines. Currently, he works at Amazon as a software engineer in New York City.  Burak is an activist in communities such as Americans with Turkic descent, as well as with the Hispanic Muslim community in Queens. He is passionate about empowering Muslim communities through political and civic engagement. 

Ibrahim R Mossallam
Board Member

Ibrahim is a professional international airline pilot. He majored in Aeronautical Science and minored in World Religions. Ibrahim is passionate about community empowerment and is very active in shaping the Muslim youth community. He currently serves as board member of AMP-NY and is a MAS-NY Chapter Council member.

Sahar Alsahlani
Board Member

Sahar Alsahlani is an American-Muslim television writer, producer, editor, interfaith peace activist, public speaker, and media commentator.

Originally from Iraq, Sahar recently moved to NYC from Los Angeles, CA, where she worked on various productions for USA Broadcasting, Warner Brothers Studios, Discovery ID, and the American Forces Network among other notable media groups. She soon discovered her passion for activism and joined the board of the Muslim Women's League, along with involvement in other Muslim advocacy organizations like the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Combining her Muslim identity and television production skills, Sahar was part of the start-up team that launched Bridges-TV—the first ever, American-Muslim lifestyle network.

Upon relocation to NYC, Sahar has been active in studying about, and engaging in inter-religious dialogue and peace-building. Currently she serves on the National Councils of the Religions for Peace, USA—a United Nation affiliated NGO—and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. An avid environmentalist, Sahar also utilized her earlier degrees in geography and public health as well as her position as a Greenfaith Fellow as part of her work with the steering committee of the Interfaith Moral Action on Climate Change.

She lives an intentional multi-faith community that is committed to the study of the principles of peace building, nonviolence, and justice. Sahar’s heritage stems from the Shia denomination of the Islamic tradition. You can often find Sahar on the front lines of many diverse intersectional movements. She believes the best way to engage in faith, is to turn it into positive action.

Nasir Mahmood
Board Member

Nasir Mahmoud is a registered pharmacist and owner of Pine Plains Pharmacy. Past President and Chairman of the board of Pharmacists Society of State of New York. Currently serve on the board of Hudson Valley Pharmacists Society, Pakistani American Pharmacists Association, (PAPA), Pharmacists Society of State of New York (PSSNY), Bank Of Millbrook Advisory Board, Mid Hudson Islamic Association (MHIA). Volunteer for Dutchess Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Care Transition Coalition, Immunization Action Coalition. He also serves on the Pharmacy PAC committee, the Foundation Committee for National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), and the Pine Plains Health Advisory Council.

Masum Ali
Board Member

Masum Ali works for community empowerment for the Bangladeshi and greater NYC Muslim immigration communities through a variety of different social organizations, such as: Executive Board member of MUNA, Advisory Committee Member of Bangladeshi

He is currently involved in the following areas: Advisory Council, Staten Island Civic Council, NYMVIC, Interfaith Center of New York, and others. He is very active in GOTV efforts for NYC Muslims and fundraising efforts for NYC elections in the hopes of educating Muslims on the value of political and civic engagement. An immigrant, US citizen and graduate of Baruch College, he currently work as a color specialist at Quad Graphics and am CEO of Diganta Media USA, Corp. (US Div of Dig Anta Media Bangladesh). His passion is coordinating different efforts that will increase the positive influence of NYC Muslims in all sectors of our society.

Ishan salahuddin
Board member

Ishan Salahuddin is a former executive committee member of ICLI. He majored in Biochemistry and minored in Near Eastern Civilizations. Ishan Salahuddin wants to help communities live the promise of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Shaykh Ibad Wali BoArd Member

Shaykh Ibad Wali is the Executive Director & Resident Scholar of Hillside Islamic Center as well as an ‘Aalim Course Instructor at Darul Uloom New York, specializing in the Islamic Law of Inheritance. He is currently on the Board of Directors for CAIR-NY, on the Clergy Advisory Committees of the District Attorney of Nassau County as well as the NYS Senator, 7th District. The Shaykh is also the Resident Scholar of Majlis Ash-Shura: Islamic Leadership Council of New York, the Founder of Sahaba Athletics League, works with the Halal Food Certification in public schools for NYC Department of Education and is engaged in various chaplaincy work and interfaith initiatives across NYC & Long Island.
Shaykh Ibad completed the rigorous seven year ‘Alimiyyah program in 2011 with numerous ijazah in various Islamic sciences and their methodologies. He hold's Bachelor's Degrees in Computer Science, Business and Liberal Arts as well as a Master's Degree in Middle Eastern Studies.

afshan khwaja BoArd Member

A resident of Nassau County, Afshan Khwaja holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work.  She is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker who also holds a certificate in school social work.  In addition, Afshan Khwaja is also a certified NYS Chaplain, who is actively engaged in many chaplaincy related and interfaith work.

Ms. Khwaja has also obtained certificates of study in Islamic Studies, Quranic Tafseer and Tajweed and continues to pursue other Islamic education.   

Professionally, she is employed part-time as Human Resource Director for a healthcare Management Company.  Her previous employments include full-time work as an educator, counselor, and administrator in private Islamic schools.

Ms. Khwaja is committed to community work and is an activist and public speaker in arenas of domestic violence, child abuse, family relations, and Muslim - Jewish Women relations.  She also provides voluntary education services for various on-line and live teaching forums.

She has received recognition from Town of Hempstead, Islamic Circle of North America, and Islamic Relief for her humanitarian and community service and has most recently been recognized as a "Women's Roll of Honor" recipient by the Town of North Hempstead.