Khalilah Sabra

Khalilah Sabra
Khalilah Sabra
Born1967
Northern Mariana Islands, U.S.
EducationBachelor Degree [Criminal Law], California State University; Master's Degree Legal Studies] University of Damascus School of Law [Juris Doctor and Ph.D.]
Occupation(s)Attorney, Transnational Forensic Expert [Middle Eastern and Islamic Ideology] Human Rights Advocate, Financial Mediator
Political partyDemocratic
Websitemasijc.org

Khalilah Sabra (/ˈhɑːlɪlə/ is an American immigration attorney, civil rights advocate, and author. She is the Executive Director of the Muslim American Society (MAS) Immigrant Justice Center, a federally recognized legal service provider specializing in immigration representation. Sabra is known for her legal work on behalf of refugees, survivors of trafficking, and marginalized Muslim and Latin American communities.

As a government fellow in Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally's Office (1978–79) and as an intern in the United States House of Representatives (1981–83), worked closely with Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally's office staff on projects and to develop and advance legislation involving freedom of speech and other civil rights projects.

Sabra converted to Islam in the age of 15.[1]

Early life and education

Born in U.S territory in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific, to a military family, Sabra began her working life as a high school student as a political intern after her participation was urged by one of her closest childhood friends, Lynn Dymally, the daughter of State Senator Mervyn Dymally, who became her mentor, as he ascended to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and United States Congressman.[2] Sabra studied criminal justice at California State University earning a graduate degree. Her postgraduate work in Paralegal Studies was completed at UCLA.

Muslim American Society

Having converted to Islam at the age of 15, she began the Muslim American Society (MAS) Immigration Justice Center in 2019. Its services support Latin American communities and African as well. As a board member of the ACLU-Racial Justice Project, Khalilah Sabra, organized prayer vigils in Johnston County to call for an end to racism and bigotry.[3]

In May 2011, Khalilah Sabra on behalf of the Muslim American Society joined with the Latin American Coalition and the Vietnamese Association of Charlotte. complaint under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, against the State of North Carolina. Complainants were organizations whose members and constituents include language minority individuals entitled to equitable access to and meaningful participation in North Carolina judicial programs, activities, services, and benefits. They brought this complaint under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, against the State of North Carolina and its Judicial Branch, to address Respondents' failure to take reasonable steps to ensure Limited English Proficient ("LEP") persons in North Carolina have meaningful access to the state judicial system.[4]

Publications and worldview

Sabra was a contributor to the Report of the Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence.[5] Sabra is the author of "An Unordinary Death: The Life of a Palestinian",[6] a work on critical pedagogy, a teaching approach designed to help students achieve critical consciousness by asking them to question and challenge the beliefs and practices that dominate their society. Sabra designs and implements programs to educate non-Muslims about a moderate version of Islam that denounces violence and extremism. Her career has been focused on representing Muslim women with immigration whose cases involves  forced marriage, honor killing and other threats of violence.[7]

Khalilah Sabra and Leon Rodriguez, federal and state prosecutor, who served as the Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Ideologically, her worldview combined leftist progressive politics with Islamic spiritual principles and support for Catholic social teachings on immigrant justice. “All persons have the right to find in their own countries the economic, political, and social opportunities to live in dignity and achieve a full life through the use of their God-given gifts. In this context, work that provides a just, living wage is a basic human need."[8]

Social justice and humanitarian work

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 Women (CEDAW), Amnesty International, and the Bay Area Immigrant Justice Center in San Francisco, California.[9] She is currently on the board of North Carolina Peace Action (NCPA), a consolidation of advocates.[10] 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.[11]

Advocacy for Muslim women

Since 9/11, Sabra has given controversial speeches about the subsequent marginalization of Muslims, especially Muslim women and religious racism.

"Gender issues and, in particular, the rights of women in Muslim culture, continue to generate much media attention in the West. Muslim women are often portrayed as inferior beings, despite rights accorded them in Islam which sought their liberation from patriarchal cultures that prevents their progress... As we become more active our work will not be overlooked by scholars and policymakers, as the Muslim woman becomes a significant contributor to policy, culture, and social change. This work is not a recommendation, but a requirement."[12] "The process of social, political, and cultural change in the United States is incomplete without the voices of Muslim women, particularly those whose words have been actively involved in civic activism and in resistance against inequality. In the west, the common picture of a Muslim woman has yet to transcend the stereotype of a woman hidden behind a veil, a voiceless, silent figure, bereft of rights. It is a picture familiar to all of us, in large part because this is invariably perpetrated by the western media.”[13]

Of the necessity for transformational, gender-related advocacy with American Muslim communities, Sabra stated that "only the direct words of Muslim women activists can reveal the depths of their understanding of possibilities and promise in the presence of political and social despair."

In a statement to the Washington Post, Sabra cited one of the major problems for women being forced into situations against their will, “There are no resources out there,” she said. “A Muslim girl can’t go to the community mosque for help. Who supports the community mosque? The men.” She insists that it is “Not a family issue. It is a human rights issue. It is about choice and personal freedom.”[7]

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.[14]

Immigration work

Khalilah Sabra is a Department of Justice Accredited Representative, assisting migrants in immigration proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s immigration courts and Board of Immigration Appeals, or before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She has been designated by the Muslim American Society, an organization that is recognized by the Board. Muslim American Society is the only Islamic organization approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals (the Board) to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts, the BIA, and the Department of Homeland Security.[15]

References

  1. ^ NC: Defender of the Muslim Faith
  2. ^ "DYMALLY, Mervyn Malcolm". Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  3. ^ "ACLU of North Carolina Launches Investigation Into Johnston County Sheriff's Office After Sheriff Makes Racially Inflammatory Comments About Latinos to the Raleigh News & Observer" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Improvements in Language Access in the Courts, 2009 to 2012" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Report of the Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  6. ^ "An Unordinary Death... The life of a Palestinian by Sabra K.C. (2006-03-24) Paperback". Amazon. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b "A woman's journey out of faith, family and fear". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Catholic Principles of Migration". Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  9. ^ "MAS Convention Profile Page". Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Board". NC Peace Action. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  11. ^ Centre for Research on Islam and Global Media (December 2016). "Islam and Muslims in the Global Media". Monthly Media Watch.
  12. ^ "Hajj, Saudi Arabia, Rape, & Prayer: A Muslim Feminist Outcry". Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Strengthening Our Diversity: A Look at Muslim-American Immigrants". 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Human Rights Award". Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  15. ^ "US Department of Justice Recognition Accreditation Roster". 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

  1. ^ "Black Lives Matter Speech". 3 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "American Muslims, United by Trump and Divided By Race". 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "Black Muslim Americans and the Challenge of Community Integration , Khalilah Sabra MASCON2017". 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Khalilah Sabra , Islam, Justice, Human Rights, 15th MAS ICNA Convention". 13 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Sehla Ashai & Khalilah Sabra, Muslim Immigration Challenges in Trump Era , 15th MAS ICNA Convention". 13 February 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Sabra, Khalilah. "American Muslims and the politics of pride and prejudice". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. ^ Sabra, Khalilah. "Death of King Abdullah brings unearned accolades". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  8. ^ Sabra, Khalilah. "Trump again fans fears of Muslims". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  9. ^ Sabra, Khalilah. "RACIAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA". The Teacher. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
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