Kristiane Backer
Kristiane Backer is a TV presenter and journalist based in London with a pan-European career. She recently presented a monthly travel show for Travel Channel in Germany and “Matters of Faith” for Ebru TV, a program that dealt with different aspects of faith and culture. She also hosts galas, conferences and corporate events around Europe.
In 2009 Kristiane published her acclaimed autobiography “From MTV to Mecca” in Germany. The book is currently being translated into Dutch, Turkish, Arabic and English. Kristiane is engaged in interfaith and intercultural dialogue and is a Global Ambassador for the Exploring Islam Foundation. She was recently honoured by the Arab Republic of Egypt with the Presidential medal of the Sciences and the Arts for her efforts in promoting understanding for Islam in the West.
At the age of 24 Kristiane became one of the leading presenters on MTV Europe where she interviewed many major artists and musicians of her time. She created her own youth show in Germany and presented a daily guide to culture and entertainment, “The Ticket NBC” on NBC Europe. Kristiane won several awards for her TV work.
Azzam Al-Tamimi
Dr. Tamimi was born in Hebron, Palestine, in 1955. He received his primary and secondary education in Kuwait and his graduate and post-graduate education in the U.K. He holds a PhD in Political Philosophy from the University of Westminster in London. Currently, Dr. Tamimi is the Board Chairman and Editor in Chief of the London-based Alhiwar satellite TV channel. From 1998 to 2008, Dr. Tamimi headed the London-based Institute of Islamic Political Thought (IIPT).
From September 2000 to 30 March 2004, he worked as a senior lecturer at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education in Leicestershire. He was visiting professor at Kyoto University in Japan from 31 March to 30 September 2004 and visiting professor at Nagoya University also in Japan from 30 December 2005 to 30 March 2006. He is the author of Rachid Ghannouchi, Democrat within Islamism, Oxford University Press, New York, Autumn 2001. He also co-edited Islam and Secularism in the Middle East, Hurst, London. and NY University Press in New York, Autumn 2000. In 1993, he edited Power-Sharing Islam? His most recent book: Hamas Unwritten Chapters was published by Hurst, London, 1 November 2006. An updated edition of the book was published in August 2007 in theUnited States of America by Olive Branch (of Interlink) under the title of Hamas A History from within. He writes and lectures on issues related to Islamic political thought and Middle Eastern politics. He is a regular commentator on a number of Arabicsatellite channels including Aljazeera and Alhiwar and frequently makes appearance on a number of English channels.
Idris Tawfiq
Presenting a true image of Islam to the world is not always the easiest thing, especially when people depend so much on a media which is often biased and distorted. Yet this is the work of Idris Tawfiq.
British Muslim writer and broadcaster, Idris Tawfiq, has a degree in English language and Literature from the University of Manchester and a degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. For many years he was Head of Religious Studies in different schools in England and Wales and has much experience of teaching, both in the UK and Egypt. Before embracing Islam, Idris was a Roman Catholic priest.
Because of his background, Idris Tawfiq is also heavily involved in the work of inter-faith dialogue. “We should never feel threatened by goodness,” he says, “wherever it comes from.” In his travels, Idris has met many religious and civic leaders, extending a hand of friendship on behalf of all Muslims.
Idris Tawfiq is a lecturer in the Faculty of Languages and Translation at Al-Azhar University.
Adnan Rasheed
Adnan Rashid obtained an honours degree in History from the University of London. He specialises in the history of Islamic civilisation, sciences, numismatics, ancient manuscripts and antiques. He is a public speaker with an experience of delivering presentations on Islamic topics in a number of universities.
Adnan is a senior researcher for the Hittin Institute and has received popularity through his debates with a number of Christian clergy. He is presently serving as a Khateeb/speaker at a West London mosque and has appeared on a number of radio programmes to represent Islam and Muslims.
Muhammad Manwar Ali (Abu Muntasir)
Manwar has a B.Sc. (Hons) M.Sc. in Computer Science from London University, MA in Islamic Studies (London University), and a Diploma in Arabic from Birkbeck College.
He is presently the Chief Executive of JIMAS, a UK educational charity notable for its financial independence, annual conferences, collection and distribution of Zakah with zero-overhead in the UK, helping refugees and asylum seekers, homeless people, activities that create understanding, and cooperation with other organisations.
Among other roles, Manwar is a Fellow of Suffolk New College (SNC), chaplain for University Campus Suffolk (UCS) & SNC & Ipswich Hospital, as well as a Member of Local Scrutiny & Involvement Panel for the Crown Prosecution Service East England.
Experienced at delivering talks for over 25 years and teaching Islam across the UK, he engages in discussion at schools, church groups and Interfaith events and focuses in working with the community at large and participation in civil society, while ensuring the continuing process of education of Muslims, particularly the youth, is not neglected.
