Maldives Minister wins "Muslim Democrat of the Year" award

Foreign minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed has been awarded the “Muslim Democrat of the Year” award on Monday.

The award is given each year to an advocate of democracy in the Muslim world.

“Dr Shaheed is a practitioner who has worked tirelessly for the past decade and a half to strengthen and promote democracy and human rights in the Maldives,” said Radwan Masmoudi, the president of the CSID.

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http://www.minivannews.com/news_brief.php?id=6430

Pakistani-American becomes first ever Muslim valedictorian at New York City College of Technology

Salam/Peace:

I want to help bring peace and harmony to the world,” says Ayesha Siddiqui, who is proud to be an American-Muslim, a Pakistani-American and a New Yorker. “I’ve lived in the Middle East and here; I feel I can be a bridge between different faiths and cultures.”

Coming from someone else, this could sound like a lofty dream. But Siddiqui, 34, a married mother of two sons, breaks down barriers wherever she goes. Named New York City College of Technology’s (City Tech) 2009 valedictorian, she is the first Pakistani Muslim female student to receive this honor in the history of the College.

[...]

Siddiqui, who earned a 3.98 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 at City Tech, misses phoning her father to let him know her grades, but his death made her realize even more how supportive her husband, children and mother-in-law have been.

“My sons are so proud of me. When I got my only A-minus, my oldest son wanted to know what went wrong. Both of them have very high expectations of me. Sometimes, my husband would tell me not to push myself so hard. But I said no, I have to do my best.” And she did.

New York City College of Technology (City Tech) of The City University of New York (CUNY) is the largest public college of technology in New York State. Located at 300 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn, the College enrolls more than 14,000 students in 60 baccalaureate, associate and specialized certificate programs.

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http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/551673/