Agha Saeed
Encyclopedia
Dr. Agha Saeed is the Founder and Chairman of American Muslim Alliance and a lecturer in the Program in Asian Studies at California State University, East Bay
. Dr. Saeed earned his B.A. in Political Science
from University of Punjab, Pakistan and M.A. and Ph.D. in Rhetoric
from University of California
at Berkeley. He was also an exchange scholar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
. In 2000, controversial remarks by Saeed in support of the Palestinian people
led Hillary Clinton to refund $50,000 in campaign donations from American Muslim Alliance members.
Dr Saeed is the producer and host of Global Forum TV which is focused on examining major world issues from a Muslim perspective.
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
. Dr. Saeed earned his B.A. in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from University of Punjab, Pakistan and M.A. and Ph.D. in Rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
from University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
at Berkeley. He was also an exchange scholar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 2000, controversial remarks by Saeed in support of the Palestinian people
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
led Hillary Clinton to refund $50,000 in campaign donations from American Muslim Alliance members.
Organizational Affiliations
- Founder & National Chair, American Muslim Alliance [1994 - to date]. American Muslim Alliance (AMA) was founded in 1994 to provide civic education and leadership training to American Muslims. AMA is a national political organization with 101 chapters in 31 states, and plans to have chapters in all 435 U.S. Congressional districts.
- Founder and President of the Pakistan American Democratic Forum. 1982 to 2003
- Coordinator, American Muslim Task Force on Civil Rights and Elections (2003 – to date)
- Coordinator, California Civil Rights Alliance (2003 – to date)
- Founder and Chair, American Muslim Political Coordination Council (1998–2001)
Major Accomplishments
Dr. Saeed spearheaded the campaign against the USA Patriot Act that led to the California State Resolution SJR10 against the USA PATRIOT act. In 2000 and 2004, Dr. Saeed was strategic force behind the creation of a first and second Muslim Bloc vote. He is the currently chair of American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), which is the nationwide coalition of Muslim Organizations.Dr Saeed is the producer and host of Global Forum TV which is focused on examining major world issues from a Muslim perspective.
Publications
Dr. Saeed is the author of the following two forthcoming books:- Pakistan in its Own Mirror: Elite Autobiographies and National Consciousness
- Syncretic Self-Understanding of South Asian Muslims: Texts and Contexts.