International Author and Attorney to speak at MUW

Nell Peel Wolfe Lecture Series features international lawyer, media journalist

COLUMBUS, Miss. (News Release) — Human Rights attorney and senior editor of “The Islamic Monthly” Arsalan Iftikhar will be the featured speaker for the Nell Peel Wolfe Lecture Series presented by the Ina E. Gordy Honors College Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m. in Poindexter Hall, Connie Sills Kossen Auditorium.

The author of “Islamic Pacifism,” Iftikhar also was a contributing author to “Taking Back Islam,” winner of the 2003 Wilbur Communications Award for Religion Book of the Year.

“Islamic Pacifism” was published in 2011 to glowing reviews. Dr. John Esposito, professor of Religion at Georgetown University, described it as “a must-read for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”  Peter Beinart of City University of New York call it, “A beautiful and profound book from one of the most important young intellectuals in America today.”

Iftikhar first rose to prominence when, two days after the attack on 9/11, he wrote an open letter to America that was carried by the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, etc.  A graduate of Washington University School of Law, he was then working with the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Since then he has worked as an attorney, editor, author and has become the “go to” person for intelligent and thoughtful commentary on issues associated with Islam and Islamic relations with the West.

His written work has been published in USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, the Economist, Houston Chronicle, Detroit Free Press, The Providence Journal, San Diego Union-Tribune, Charlotte Observer and many more.

For seven years he has been a regular contributor to National Public Radio’s “Tell Me More” and “The Barbershop.” Iftikhar has appeared on CNN, BBC World News, Fox News,  C-Span, Voice of America and in December 2012 the ABC News documentary called “Back to the Beginning” by Christiane Amanpour.

His invited presentations include the Doha Debates conducted by the BBC, the British Museum, the Rockefeller Center and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in