Shereef Akeel
Encyclopedia
Shereef Akeel is an American
lawyer of Egyptian descent
notable for pursuing human rights
and civil liberties
cases on the behalf of Arab American
s and Muslim American
s.
, California
. When Akeel was ten years old his family relocated to Sterling Heights, Michigan
where he spent the remainder of his childhood. Akeel obtained his accounting degree from University of Michigan
in 1987, an MBA from Wayne State University
in 1992 and graduated from Michigan State University College of Law
in 1996.
through the 1990s, but eventually turned to the legal profession. After obtaining his law degree, he became an associate at the law firm
of Melamed, Dailey, and Akeel in 1996, becoming a full partner in 2000. Reflecting his business background, his original specialties were property insurance
, contract law, and personal injury law, and did not become involved in civil rights
law until 2001.
However, his focus changed after the attacks of September 11
. By his account, a Yemeni American man approached him on September 12, alleging that his employer had summarily fired him, saying "Get out of here. Go tell your leader we don't want you." Since then, Akeel has been representing Arab Americans in Metro Detroit
who alleged discrimination and specializes in employment and civil rights law. These efforts made national news when he filed a class action law suit on behalf of former detainees of Abu Ghraib
as well as other detention centers. In March 2004, Akeel was asked to represent a former detainee of Abu Ghraib prison who claimed he had been abused and tortured by American soldiers and civilians hired by the U.S Army. After reports of abuse began to surface, the US government asked Army major General Antonio Taguba
to spearhead a full investigation. In addition to abuse reports the investigation concluded that two agencies hired by the US government participated and or encouraged the abuses at the Prison. In June 2007, Akeel brought a class action lawsuit against CACI International Inc. and Titan Corp.
These two agencies were hired by the U.S Army to provide translation and interrogation services.
Besides his direct legal work, Akeel has been active in civil liberties advocacy, serving on the board of the Oakland County
chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
since 2004.
More recently, Akeel had been named as a "Lawyer of the year" for 2004, and "Michigan Super lawyer" in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer of Egyptian descent
Egyptian American
Egyptian Americans are Americans of Egyptian ancestry, first-generation Egyptian immigrants, or descendants of Egyptians who immigrated to the United States. In the 2007 U.S. census, the number of people with Egyptian ancestry was estimated at 195,000, although some estimates range from several...
notable for pursuing human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
cases on the behalf of Arab American
Arab American
An Arab American is a United States citizen or resident of Arab ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage or identity, who identifies themselves as Arab. Arab Americans trace ancestry to any of the various waves of immigrants of the countries comprising the Arab World...
s and Muslim American
Islam in the United States
From the 1880s to 1914, several thousand Muslims immigrated to the United States from the Ottoman Empire, and from parts of South Asia; they did not form distinctive settlements, and probably most assimilated into the wider society....
s.
Early life and education
Shereef Akeel was born on April 27, 1965 in WalnutWalnut, California
Walnut is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2010 census and its current mayor is Tom King, a former Detective from the Los Angeles Police Department....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. When Akeel was ten years old his family relocated to Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sterling Heights is a city in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan, and one of Detroit's core suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 129,699...
where he spent the remainder of his childhood. Akeel obtained his accounting degree from University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1987, an MBA from Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in 1992 and graduated from Michigan State University College of Law
Michigan State University College of Law
The Michigan State University College of Law is a private law school located in East Lansing, Michigan which is affiliated with Michigan State University...
in 1996.
Career
Akeel worked as a Certified Public AccountantCertified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
through the 1990s, but eventually turned to the legal profession. After obtaining his law degree, he became an associate at the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Melamed, Dailey, and Akeel in 1996, becoming a full partner in 2000. Reflecting his business background, his original specialties were property insurance
Property insurance
Property insurance provides protection against most risks to property, such as fire, theft and some weather damage. This includes specialized forms of insurance such as fire insurance, flood insurance, earthquake insurance, home insurance or boiler insurance. Property is insured in two main...
, contract law, and personal injury law, and did not become involved in civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
law until 2001.
However, his focus changed after the attacks of September 11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. By his account, a Yemeni American man approached him on September 12, alleging that his employer had summarily fired him, saying "Get out of here. Go tell your leader we don't want you." Since then, Akeel has been representing Arab Americans in Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
who alleged discrimination and specializes in employment and civil rights law. These efforts made national news when he filed a class action law suit on behalf of former detainees of Abu Ghraib
Abu Ghraib
The city of Abu Ghraib in the Baghdad Governorate of Iraq is located just west of Baghdad's city center, or northwest of Baghdad International Airport. It has a population of 189,000. The old road to Jordan passes through Abu Ghraib...
as well as other detention centers. In March 2004, Akeel was asked to represent a former detainee of Abu Ghraib prison who claimed he had been abused and tortured by American soldiers and civilians hired by the U.S Army. After reports of abuse began to surface, the US government asked Army major General Antonio Taguba
Antonio Taguba
Antonio Mario Taguba , is a retired major general in the United States Army. He was the second American citizen of Philippine birth to be promoted to general officer rank in the Army....
to spearhead a full investigation. In addition to abuse reports the investigation concluded that two agencies hired by the US government participated and or encouraged the abuses at the Prison. In June 2007, Akeel brought a class action lawsuit against CACI International Inc. and Titan Corp.
Titan Corp.
Titan Corporation was a United States based company founded in 1981, with its headquartered in San Diego, California. It was acquired by L-3 Communications on June 3, 2005 and is currently operating as the "Titan Group" of L-3 Communications...
These two agencies were hired by the U.S Army to provide translation and interrogation services.
Besides his direct legal work, Akeel has been active in civil liberties advocacy, serving on the board of the Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
since 2004.
More recently, Akeel had been named as a "Lawyer of the year" for 2004, and "Michigan Super lawyer" in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010