Adeeba Al-Zaman was born in Houston, TX. She graduated in December 2004 from Rosemont College with a degree in political science. From April 2005 until September 2006, Adeeba was CAIR-Pennsylvania’s first full-time employee, Director of Communications. She was hired to develop the organization from the ground-up. Among other things, Adeeba presented CAIR-Pennsylvania’s 10-part course, “Understanding Islam and Muslims through History and Jurisprudence” at the Paoli Presbyterian Church.
Amara Chaudhry-Kravitz, Esq.
“Of Counsel” Attorney
Amara Chaudhry-Kravitz was born and raised in Covington, Virginia. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Virginia and her law degree from Washington and Lee University. Amara’s interest in public interest law was first demonstrated at U.Va. where she had three internships with Virginia’s Juvenile & Domestic Courts. At W&L Law, Amara was a staff writer for the Journal of Race and Ethnic Ancestry Law, won the John W. Davis Moot Court Competition, and worked in a law school clinic which served female federal inmates.
Amara has devoted her entire professional career to the representation of historically marginalized populations in both criminal and civil proceedings. Amara has represented the indigent accused, low income persons, persons of color, juveniles, the mentally ill, and members of the LGBT community. She has significant trial and appellate experience.
In addition to her legal career, Amara has served her community through a number of activities. She is a former member of the CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Committee and served on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of West Virginia’s statewide affiliate where she also co-founded the local chapter in Charleston. She is an active member of the Philadelphia Bar Association where she serves as the Secretary of the Public Interest Section and VP of Attorney Outreach for the South Asian Bar Association of Philadelphia. Amara has also volunteered with the Women’s Center of Montgomery County which serves survivors of relationship violence.
Jacob Bender
Former Creative Director
Jacob Bender brought to CAIR-PA decades of activism promoting mutual respect and understanding between Muslims, Christians, and Jews around the world, and on behalf of peace and justice movements in the U.S. He additionally has a long resume of professional accomplishments in the field of communications for both nonprofit and corporate clients. Read full bio…
Marwa El-Turky
Former Civil Rights Director
Marwa El-Turky was born in Chicago, IL, raised in Allentown, PA and spent her childhood traveling frequently to Egypt. She has been and continues to be an active member of the Muslims Association of the Lehigh Valley in Whitehall, PA. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science from Temple University in May 2006 and Masters of Science in Global Politics from the London School of Economics in December 2007. Marwa has also worked in various civil rights and human rights organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First.
In July 2008 she was hired as CAIR-Pennsylvania’s Director of Civil Rights to address issues of religious discrimination and defend the constitutional rights of the Pennsylvania Muslim community.
Ryan Houldin
Former Civil Rights Attorney
Ryan brings to CAIR-Philadelphia a deep commitment and passion for securing justice for marginalized communities. Upon graduation from Temple Law School, Ryan worked as an Assistant Defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, one of the nation’s leading Public Defender offices. In 1963, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark decision, unanimously ruling that the U.S. Constitution mandates the right to counsel for indigent clients in criminal cases. As a result, public defender offices began forming around the country to afford due process of law for impoverished populations.
As a trial attorney for one of the nation’s largest Public Defender offices, Ryan became proficient in trial advocacy skills through zealously advocating for thousands of clients. Ryan litigated hundreds of cases in an effort to combat the institutionalized racism that permeates the criminal justice system in the United States. While listening to each client’s story and learning about the countless civil liberty violations suffered by his clients, Ryan engaged in legal work that sought vindication for civil liberty and civil rights violations, as well as promoting meaningful policy change.
Moein Khawaja
Former Executive Director
Moein was born and raised in Springfield, IL. Along with substantial involvement with the Muslim Students Association at the University of Illinois, Moein developed the first CAIR chapter for a university and a leadership training program, earning him the Illinois Leadership Certificate.
In addition to owning and managing a small contracting business, Moein devoted a considerable amount of time in 2008 to the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign as a volunteer coordinator.
Moein is an alumnus of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, a program of the University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture, where he studied non-profit management and community leadership.
Moein was first hired as the Civil Rights Director in 2009 and become the Executive Director in May 2010. Over three years, Moein expanded the organization, developed new programs and services, appeared in both local and international media, resolved numerous cases of discrimination and prioritized challenging Islamophobia. He stepped down as Executive Director in July 2012 to pursue graduate studies.
Q. Amin Nathari
Former Executive Director
Amin is a critically acclaimed author, lecturer and community servant, and one of the leading voices of his generation on Islam and the Muslims in America. He is also a renowned and respected activist in the Muslim American community and the society-at-large. He was one of the founders of an influential New Jersey Mosque and Community Center, where he served as an Imam and Director from 1995-2000, as well as in other community service and leadership roles in the Muslim American community prior to joining CAIR in July 2009.
He is the author of several books, including his most recent work entitled Message to the Grassroots for 21st Century America – What Would Malcolm Do?, (2nd edition printing February 2009) as well as Muslim Unity By Any Means Necessary (2004), Da’wah – The Invitation to Islam in 21st Century America (2001) and other works.
A Communications and Media Consultant by profession, Nathari formerly served as Deputy Director of Communications for the City of Newark, NJ and Mayor Cory A. Booker. He is also the Founder of The Sabree Group, which is comprised of several information and media entities, including Sabree Press.
Justin L. Peyton
Former Executive Director
Justin Peyton was born in Manhattan, NY and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He received a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Shippensburg University in May 2001 and Masters of Public Administration from Shippensburg University in December 2002. He then went on to serve on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from December 2002 until August 2007.
From September 2007 until June 2008, he served as CAIR-Pennsylvania’s first Director of Civil Rights. He was hired to address the civil rights needs of the Pennsylvania Muslim community. From July 2008 until August 2009, Justin served as CAIR-Pennsylvania’s first Executive Director. He was promoted to further develop the chapter. In August 2009, Justin stepped down as Executive Director to pursue full-time studies in the Islamic Chaplaincy Program at Hartford Seminary.
Ryan Tack-Hooper
Former Staff Attorney
Ryan came to CAIR from one of Philadelphia’s top law firms, Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller. He brought with him a strong background in complex civil litigation and experience with the legal issues facing the American Muslim community, including religious discrimination in the workplace and by government agencies, and improper law enforcement practices.
Ryan is a graduate of New York University School of Law, where he was an Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellow and Executive Editor of the NYU Journal of International Law and Politics. Before joining Hangley, Ryan served as a law clerk for the Hon. Jerome B. Simandle, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Marwa El-Turky was born in Chicago, IL, raised in Allentown, PA and spent her childhood traveling frequently to Egypt. She has been and continues to be an active member of the Muslims Association of the Lehigh Valley in Whitehall, PA. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science from Temple University in May 2006 and Masters of Science in Global Politics from the London School of Economics in December 2007. Marwa has also worked in various civil rights and human rights organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First.
Marwa El-Turky was born in Chicago, IL, raised in Allentown, PA and spent her childhood traveling frequently to Egypt. She has been and continues to be an active member of the Muslims Association of the Lehigh Valley in Whitehall, PA. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science from Temple University in May 2006 and Masters of Science in Global Politics from the London School of Economics in December 2007. Marwa has also worked in various civil rights and human rights organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First.
Moein was born and raised in Springfield, IL. Along with substantial involvement with the Muslim Students Association at the University of Illinois, Moein developed the first CAIR chapter for a university and a leadership training program, earning him the Illinois Leadership Certificate.
Amin is a critically acclaimed author, lecturer and community servant, and one of the leading voices of his generation on Islam and the Muslims in America. He is also a renowned and respected activist in the Muslim American community and the society-at-large. He was one of the founders of an influential New Jersey Mosque and Community Center, where he served as an Imam and Director from 1995-2000, as well as in other community service and leadership roles in the Muslim American community prior to joining CAIR in July 2009.
Justin Peyton was born in Manhattan, NY and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He received a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Shippensburg University in May 2001 and Masters of Public Administration from Shippensburg University in December 2002. He then went on to serve on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from December 2002 until August 2007.