Khalilah Sabra

Khalilah Sabra (/ˈhɑːlɪlə/ is an American advocate and author best known for her work with refugees in the Middle East and literary contributions to the Joe L. Kincheloe and Shirley R. Steinberg series Transgression: Cultural Studies and Education.

Khalilah Sabra
Khalilah Sabra at the MAS-ICNA Convention of 2018
Born	Northern Mariana Islands, U.S.
Education	California State University (BA) University of California at Los Angeles (MS) University of Damascus (PhD)
Occupation	Author, social activist
Political party	Democrat

Following a fellowship at The Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights,[1] Sabra commitment embraced an ethical framework and proposes that an entity, be it an association or individual, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large social developed programs coherent path: from stance on social issues, to active collaboration with organizations committed to solidarity. Importance has always been given to the commitment of individuals around the world as the primary mechanism for motivating society as a whole commitment which extend our understanding of the root causes of bigotry and the range of options, we as humans have in constructing alternative ways to share power. Her political perspectives including social democracy and progressivism that allow for inclusion for the underrepresented.

Khalilah Sabra has many past experiences working with various social justice and humanitarian organizations, such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Woman (CEDAW), Amnesty International, and the Bay Area Immigrant Justice Center in San Francisco, California.[2] She is currently on the board of North Carolina Peace Action (NCPA), a consolidation of advocates.[3] Sabra has previously served as a board member on the ACLU Racial Profiling Committee. In her role on the ACLU Racial Program, Sabra contributed to civil rights investigation on issues related to Islam and Muslims.[4]

Khalilah Sabra received the International Human Rights Award in 2013. Sabra was honored for her work with refugees in Lebanon, Syria, and nations hosting Palestinian and Syrian civilians as well as for her leadership role as Director of the Muslim American Society Immigrant Justice Center.[5]

Currently, Khalilah Sabra is accredited by the Department of Justice and Board of Immigration Appeals to serves as counsel for aliens in immigration proceedings for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and Department of Homeland Security.[6]

In an op-ed for Seattle Times, Sabra wrote, Muslim must not be represented by attacks in America. She states: “Civic energy is useless when progressive thought is buried beneath violent transgressions and isolation. We, as a community, must draw a line in the sand. Our community leaders must be more aggressive in reminding its members what values Islam teaches us to embrace, with what degree of passion and what real Islamic character is. Most of all, we must ensure every member knows how to respond to the urges and tensions of a Muslim life that is currently dealing with society’s response to Islam.”[7]

The Attorney General's office made revisions to the policy regarding headgear. On Friday, February 16, 2007, MAS was notified by Special Deputy Attorney Neil Dalton that effective February 21, 2007, all customers, with no exception, must have their photos taken without any type of headgear visible except where removal of headgear would violate the religious conviction or wear headgear is worn for medical purposes.[8]