City of Residence:
Minneapolis, MN
Occupation:
Adjunct Islamic Law Professor at the University of Minnesota
Excerpt:
“After I arrived here I was able to get employment from the local county here, so I became a county worker at Hennepin County here in Minneapolis. And I’ve worked there as an eligibility officer in the Department of Human Services. And while working there I began to go and attend law school here at the University of Minnesota, from which I graduated in 2004. And so I, I was able to finish my law school and then immediately after that I started teaching at the law school as an adjunct professor of Islamic Law. In Pakistan, I had a dual training. I had training in both the British Common Law as well as the Islamic law. So I did have a professional background in Islamic law; in fact, I had my Masters degree in Islamic law, or Shariah law. And so I began teaching at the U of M law school since 2004.
I traveled back to Africa, to Somalia, in fact, as a consultant for the United Nations and to also help rebuild the justice sector in the northwest part of Somalia where I am from. And I spent nearly 2 years there as well. And I came back here and I helped establish a project on Islamic law and human rights, at the human rights center at the U of M law school. I am leading that project right now.
Muslims who are here are subject to the American law. We came here, for instance in my story, as a willing and grateful refugee who is, who understands and is grateful for the opportunities provided by this great country. And I am committed to upholding and abiding the laws of this country. And I have been doing that so far. And I am committed to that, and for me the laws of the United States and the constitution of the United States is the law that I chose to live under. And so are all the Muslims who are here.”
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