Zainab Al-Suwaij

Co-founder of American Islamic Congress, Interfaith Leader, Women's Rights Advocate

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Washington, DC, USA
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Zainab Al-Suwaij Biography

Zainab Al-Suwaij is the co-founder and Executive Director of the American Islamic Congress (AIC), a nonprofit established in the wake of the September 11 attacks to build interfaith understanding, mobilize a moderate voice in the American Muslim community, and promote civil rights in the Muslim world.

Al-Suwaij’s personal mission is to promote a positive Muslim-American voice that strengthens interfaith relations and addresses the many challenges in the Muslim world. She actively leads interfaith and tolerance programs across various religious and educational institutions. Al-Suwaij serves on Connecticut’s Hate Crimes Advisory Board and is a board member of George Mason University’s Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution. She has also been recognized as an Ambassador for Peace by the Interreligious Federation for World Peace.

Born in Basra, Iraq, in 1971, Al-Suwaij participated in the failed 1991 uprising against Saddam Hussein, an experience she recounted in a memoir for The New Republic, before fleeing to the United States. Coming from a prominent religious family, she is a Hashemite, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and blends traditional and progressive elements in her personal religious beliefs. Since the toppling of Saddam Hussein, Al-Suwaij has been instrumental in efforts to rebuild the Iraqi education system and strengthen women’s rights in Iraq, co-founding the Iraqi Women Higher Counsel which successfully lobbied for a mandate that 25% of Iraqi parliamentary seats be allocated to women. She also established the Iraqi Women’s Educational Institute.

Al-Suwaij has testified before the Senate, briefed the President and the Secretary of State, and her writing has been featured in major publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and others. She has appeared on media outlets like NPR, CNN, and Al-Jazeera, and spoken at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown. She also participated in a major rally alongside George Clooney in April 2006 to Save Darfur in Washington, DC.

Her latest initiative, HAMSA, supports human rights activists in the Middle East through projects like an essay contest judged alongside figures like Azar Nafisi and Gloria Steinem. Al-Suwaij also directs the AIC’s Washington office, where she continues to advocate for a progressive Muslim agenda to political leaders and policymakers.

BOOK Zainab Al-Suwaij

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/05/2024.

Zainab Al-Suwaij Speaking Topics

  • The Internet and How It Has Changed the Middle East

  • Interfaith Dialogue Post 9/11

  • Struggle for Women's Equality in the Muslim World

  • The Arab Spring

  • Iraq

  • Interfaith dialogue and countering anti-Muslim rhetoric

Zainab Al-Suwaij Videos

  • What can the U.S. do to stop radicalization at home?
    With growing concern over global extremism, the question of how to counter and prevent radicalization is the focus of a three-day summit at the White...
  • Zainab Al-Suwaij discusses religious radicalization
    CCTV America's Mike Walters interviewed Executive Director of the American Islamic Congress Zainab Al-Suwaij about religious radicalism in Europe and...

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  • What topics does Zainab Al-Suwaij speak about?

    Zainab Al-Suwaij is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Civil Rights, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Faith & Religion, Government, Middle Eastern Heritage, Political, Security & Defense, Social Activism, Spirituality, Women, World Affairs.
  • Where does Zainab Al-Suwaij travel from?

    Zainab Al-Suwaij generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Zainab Al-Suwaij is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Internet and How It Has Changed the Middle East, Interfaith Dialogue Post 9/11, Struggle for Women's Equality in the Muslim World, The Arab Spring, Iraq and Interfaith dialogue and countering anti-Muslim rhetoric. The estimated speaking fee range to book Zainab Al-Suwaij for your event is available upon request. Zainab Al-Suwaij generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Mariane Pearl, Roya Hakakian, Robin Wright, Shirin Ebadi and Asra Nomani. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Zainab Al-Suwaij for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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