Community News – Week of January 4, 2015

Hena Khan’s book, Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns:  A Muslim Book of Colors.

Hena Khan’s book recommended as a holiday gift

Muslim authors are finally making their mark felt in America and elsewhere. Their books are now being recommended as holiday gifts. The Richmond Times Dispatch in its list of recommendations for holiday gifts listed “Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors” by Hena Khan in the children’s books category.

The review described it as “  a breathtaking picture-book story told from the perspective of a Muslim girl explaining her faith to a new friend. An effective title for exploring world religions and finding unity through color and symbolism.” The books is illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini.

The Independent of London also listed a book from the Muslim publisher Kube in its Best Books for Children this Christmas list: Naima B.Roberts’ She Wore Red Trainers.

Suhail Akhtar Appointed Ontario Judge

Suhail Akhtar

TORONTO–Veteran crown attorney Suhail A.Q.Akhtar has been appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice. He is one of the twenty new judges appointed by the federal government in Ontario. He may well be the first Muslim to be appointed judge at this level in Canada.

According to the a press release from the Ministry of Justice’s office Mr. Akhtar completed his Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) from the University of London (U.K.) in 1983 and trained as a Barrister at Law of England and Wales from Inns of Court School of Law in 1984. He was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1998. He has been with the Crown Law Office (Criminal) since 2013.
He has worked both as a crown prosecutor and with private firms. He also worked on secondment with the Ministry of the Attorney General – Guns and Gangs Initiative from 2005 to 2009 in Toronto.

Five Muslims Among Academy of Inventors Fellows

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) recently announced the election of 170 distinguished innovators as Fellows of the NAI for 2014. There are at least six Muslims in this prestigious list.

According to a  press release election to NAI Fellow status is a high professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who have demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

Muslim inventors who are included in the list are as follows:

Ilhan A. Aksay, Princeton University
M. Saif Islam, University of California, Davis
Asad M. Madni, University of California, Los Angeles
Mohamed Y. Soliman, Texas Tech University
Kamil Ugurbil, University of Minnesota

Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation Receives Grant

PLANO,TX–The Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation has received a $12,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. The grant will help the group in creating a  full-time attorney position to support the increased case load particularly for clients in transitional housing and the crisis shelter, according to a press release.

TMWF had received a similar grant last year. Its Peaceful Oasis Shelter is the only domestic violence shelter in North Texas to address the specific cultural and language needs of Muslim women, including immigrants and refugees.

The culturally sensitive staff speaks 14 different languages and specializes in addressing the spiritual, cultural and dietary needs of Muslim women that are not addressed in mainstream shelters.
Mian and Sufi’s book Among Best Economics Book of 2014

Atif Mian and Amir Sufi’s book on  the 2008 financial crisis has been listed among the Best Economics Book of the year by Financial Times. Atif Mian and Amir Sufi’s House of Debt has been praised by other newspapers as well.

The Financial Times review says, “Armed with clear and powerful evidence, Atif Mian and Amir Sufi reveal in House of Debt how the Great Recession and Great Depression, as well as the current economic malaise in Europe, were caused by a large run-up in household debt followed by a significantly large drop in household spending.”

Mian is a professor of economics at Princetion. Sufi teaches finance at the University of Chicago.

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