Aly Abuzakuk

Aly Ramadan Abuzakuk is the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy's (CSID) program officer for the Middle East and North Africa. The following biography has been provided by CSID:

"Aly Ramadan Abuzaakuk was born and raised in Libya. He received a Bachelor's degree from Cairo University in Journalism in 1968 and a Master's degree in Communications from Stanford University in 1971. He also holds a Master's degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan. In 1973, he established the Department of Communications at the University of Benghazi, Libya. He participated in two Ph.D. programs: in Journalism at the University of Iowa (1972-72) and In Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1978-1981). In 1981, he was a founding member of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, and served as its director of communications until 1987. From 1987 to 1994, he served as Director of Publications at the International Institute of Islamic Thought in Herndon Virginia. From 1994 to 1998 he became the Director of Amanah Publishing House in Beltsville, Maryland, and later served as the Executive Director of the American Muslim Council (1998-2002). During this time, he served as Ambassador of Goodwill for the U.S. State Department to several Arab and Muslim countries. In addition to translating and transliterating the last three parts of the Qur'an, he has published numerous articles (in Arabic and English) and has worked extensively with foreign and domestic media. He is a frequent lecturer on Media, Libyan Affairs and American Muslims. In 2003, he co-founded the Libya Forum for Human and Political Development to promote human rights, democracy, and civil society in Libya." [1]