Mike Ghouse is an Indian-American public speaker, author and interfaith activist who regularly writes on pluralism, human rights and religious freedom. He is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism, and Director of the World Muslim Congress.

Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington provides a wide range of services for seniors and their family members, as well as intergenerational programs that build bridges between young students and older adults.

Palwasha L. Kakar is the interim director for religion and inclusive societies at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Kakar joined USIP after four years with the Asia Foundation, where she was the Afghanistan director for women’s empowerment and development. Prior to joining the foundation, Kakar led the Gender Mainstreaming and Civil Society Unit in the […]

The Office of International Religious Freedom promotes universal respect for freedom of religion or belief for all as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy. It monitors religiously motivated abuses, harassment and discrimination worldwide, recommending, developing and implementing policies and programs to address these concerns. Contact Daniel Nadel, director and principal deputy to the IRF […]

Hind Kabawat is director of interfaith peacebuilding at George Mason University’s Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution. Kabawat has directed the center’s Syria work since 2004 and has trained hundreds of Syrians in multifaith collaboration and civil society development.

The International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance is a network of like-minded countries fully committed to advancing freedom of religion or belief around the world. Currently 37 countries have joined the alliance, which is led by a four-member steering committee.

Elizabeth K. Cassidy is director of research and policy at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. She oversees USCIRF’s research and publications and the development and promotion of USCIRF’s policy recommendations. Her substantive expertise includes the International Religious Freedom Act, international organization issues, international and comparative law issues, and refugee and asylum policy

Shaarik Zafar has worked at the intersection of some of the most critical foreign and domestic policy challenges facing the United States. He is the former special representative to Muslim communities at the U.S. Department of State and former special counsel for post-9/11 national origin discrimination at the U.S. Department of Justice. Zafar currently works […]

Aykan Erdemir is Director of Global Research & Diplomatic Affairs at the Anti-Defamation League and former MP in the Turkish parliament. He is on the Advisory Council for FoRB  Women’s Alliance and one of the founders of the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB), a global network of parliamentarians committed to advancing the […]