Newly Appointed OIC Envoy is Hafiz of Qur’an

Community News - Community News

Written by Muslim Link Staff

Friday, 26 February 2010 10:59

Earlier this month President Obama appointed deputy associate counsel to the President Rashad Hussain as the nation’s envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Hussain, an American Muslim whose parents are from India, was appointed as part of the White House legal team on January 28, 2010. His new role as envoy to the 57 Muslim nations making up the OIC was announced at the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar via video conference on February 13, 2010.

According to the Washington Post, Obama called Hussain “an accomplished lawyer and a close and trusted member of my White House staff,” who would strengthen his policy of outreach to the world’s Muslims.

Prior to his White House appointment, Hussain served as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, a law clerk to Damon J. Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and a legislative assistant on the House Judiciary Committee where his work included reviewed legislation in the USA Patriot Act.

Since his appointment as a White House attorney, and now with his appoint as OIC envoy, right wing media outlets like Fox News have highlighted a 2004 quote from Hussain where he referred to the Sami Al-Arian trial and similar cases as “politically-motivated persecutions.” In response, Hussain told Politico “I made statements on that panel that I now recognize were ill-conceived or not well-formulated.”

Hussain, 31, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his Master’s degree in Public Administration and in Arabic & Islamic Studies from Harvard University, and his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. In his video announcement, President Obama said Hussain has memorized the entire Qur’an.
PRESIDENT OBAMA TAPS INTO YOUNG MUSLIM LEADER TO BRIDGE US-MUSLIM WORLD DIVIDE

Muslim Public Affairs Council Press Release

(Washington, D.C., 2/16/10) -- On February 13th President Barack Obama appointed Rashad Hussein, currently working as a legal counsel at the White House, to be the US Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Making the announcement via video conference, to the annual gathering of the US-Islamic World forum bringing together hundreds of religious and civic leaders, government officials and members of civil society, the President said that Hussein’s appointment was part of “deepening” the relationship with Muslim Majority countries, which he had outlined in his Cairo speech.

Rashad has extensive interaction with Muslim communities since the mid 90s. He has degrees from both Yale and Harvard and is a Hafez (one who has memorized the Quran). What is significant is that the President appointed a person recognized for his involvement in Muslim communities and who has extensive knowledge of Islam as a faith and Muslim communities internationally, both features of which are strong points as we engage Muslim countries.

There is a misconception, which has been fueled by the media that the practice of faith fuels extremism, while Rashad Hussein’s appointment debunks that myth. The appointment of Rashad Hussein is encouraging to all young Muslims who want to establish a career in public service and work for the US government.

In his new leadership role as an ambassador representing America to Muslims abroad, Rashad Hussein, is a shining example of what Muslim Americans can do: serve as peacemakers based on President Obama’s goal to seek “mutual interest and mutual respect.”

MPAC remains committed to continuing its civic and government engagement programs which will help young Muslims develop skills to follow the footsteps of all Muslims in our government today, highlighting the success of Rashad Hussein.