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Ahmed El-Sherif
email: el-sherif@betachem.com
Ahmed El-Sherif was born in the Sinai and came to the United States in 1979. He became an American citizen in 1985. He has three children, the eldest of whom is a student at UMKC.
A scientist in medicinal chemistry, he is president of BetaChem Inc., a life science laboratory, which he began in 1993.
Founder of the American Muslim Council of Greater Kansas City, an organization involving Muslims in mainstream American political life, Ahmed participates in various national and international conferences and organization, such as the UN summit in Copenhagen about social and economic development. He was one of the organizers of the International Conference of Parliamentarians in Belgium on the genocide in Bosnia. Last year, El-Sherif coordinated a conference on the Rights of Children with former mayor of Kansas City, Dr. Charles Wheeler.
As a graduate student, he served the Muslim communities as imam in Tuscon, AZ (where he was also president of the Islamic Center), Jonesboro, AR (where he founded the Islamic Center and served as its president), and Davis and Sacramento, CA.He has been active with Heart to Heart International, and also is founder and president of Shifa International, a humanitarian organization specializing in the sending of medical relief to various places in the world. El-Sherif has been instrumental in distributing needed medicine to places such as the Ukraine, with personal trips to Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza, Bosnia, and Afghanistan for over twenty years.
When black churches in the South were being burned, he organized an interfaith effort in Kansas City to raise money for their reconstruction. He has provided hospitality for foreign visitors, including Israeli officials interested in dialogue for peace.
His interfaith activities are numerous. For example, in 1999 he hosted Joel Lavi, Jewish mayor of Kansas City sister city Romle, Israel, Arab city councilman Michael Fanous, and others in his home during their visit here. In 2000 he convened an interfaith panel at Johnson County Community College for visitors from Israel, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, and the West Bank, in cooperation with the International Visitors Council of Greater Kansas City. He has appeared in many interfaith forums, including the Kansas City Interfaith Council's recent "Gifts of Pluralism" conference. In 2000, he was given the Bodhisattva Award for his humanitarian and interfaith work by the Rime Buddhist Center and Monastery.
March 25. 2002
Weariness blurs activist's view of his influence
By MARY SANCHEZ
The Kansas City Star
The Muslim man is apologizing."I'm sorry," he says, "I just cannot comment right now."
These are the first fitful hours of the war on Iraq. Reporters are culling their contacts, seeking viewpoints for the next edition. For years the man has been a stellar news source, passionate and articulate.
Through the weekend, the war rages on. The man's silent resolve steadies.
"I am just sitting in my home, feeling numb," he said. "I feel I can only shut my door and pray."
The man's fears are appearing on the foreign and domestic telecasts he watches: bodies of American soldiers displayed on Middle Eastern TV, Iraqi civilians slaughtered, friendly fire plummeting a British pilot to his death and the unknown fate of captured U.S. Marines.
"I feel like I have failed miserably," he says in a conversation he will share, but not from his usual role as an often-quoted peace activist.
Today he wishes to be just another American living in a Kansas City suburb, trying to raise his family and to keep his business afloat.
"I worked so hard over the years trying to build bridges," he said, "but what is happening is equally powerful, maybe more...." His voice trails off.
His was not the work of a one-time rally attendee.
He spoke on national television news shows, sat on countless panels, lobbied members of Congress in Topeka, Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. He organized missions to bring medical supplies and other aid to Bosnia and Iraq. He gave countless speeches to schools and civic groups.
"I feel like our moral conduct is not growing up with our technology," he says of America. "Our world is getting smaller, and we really need to recognize and hear one another."
The man is from the Middle East and of Arab descent. He came to the United States decades ago seeking an advanced education at an American university, like many foreigners do.
He decided to stay, later becoming a United States citizen.
Today his comments about "our forces" and "our administration" reflect that decision. He speaks as a loyal American, but one with a world viewpoint.
It is the crux of his distress.
"War affects people," he said. "Ordinary people get lost in the midst of all of this."
By the time he was a teen-ager, the man had been through three wars.
"By then I had had enough of war and said, `Let me go to America,' " he said. " `There are no wars over there.' "
He liked that Americans had elaborate systems for retirement, a concept not prevalent in his country. "If every seven years there is another war, your lives are constantly put on hold," he said.
His present weariness did not begin with the war on Iraq.
He was devastated when a coalition fell apart about two years ago between local Muslim, Jewish and Palestinian leaders.
He became physically ill to know Sept. 11 was the work of extremists twisting his Muslim faith.
The man knows his thoughts at that time were not logical, but that didn't diminish them.
"I came here to get away from all of this, and I felt personally guilty, that I brought this here," he recalled.
A friend counseled, " `No, it is not you, the world is just getting smaller.' "
The man maintains shreds of optimism. He hopes that the war will stabilize the Middle East, that it won't spread to other countries and that it will end the sanctions on Iraq.
"We have angered the world," he said. "Maybe I just did not work hard enough."
Sometimes those who have been the most effective, persuasive and politically astute lose hope. Or, maybe it is simply that their work is done.
What the man does not realize, could not humanly calculate, is how many people he has inspired. People who may read one more book, listen to one more foreign broadcast or counter one more nasty sentiment about another's religion because of him.
Last week, the man counseled a budding college journalist to listen as closely to those who are pro-war as she listens to the pro-peace opinions she finds more palatable.
Activists grow weary. But the really good ones leave footprints.
The Kansas City Star
March 24, 2004Muslim leader reaches out to all faiths
Experience as a refugee led him to help others
PAULA SPREITZER
From Kansas City to Bosnia, Ahmed El-Sherif reaches out to people of all backgrounds.El-Sherif, 48, is a leader in the Muslim community and encourages interfaith dialogue. He speaks at many forums, organized the first interfaith conference in Kansas City, co-organized the International Conference of Parliamentarians that 200 countries attended in Belgium and co-organized a conference in Kansas City on children's rights.
The Leawood resident's humanitarian efforts include helping refugees who have resettled in the United States, as well as sending medical relief abroad as founder and president of Shifa International and through Heart to Heart International. He has traveled to Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank, Gaza, Bosnia and Afghanistan. He hopes to take medicine to Iraqis and Palestinians by the end of the year.
He also has opened his home to foreign visitors, including Israeli officials interested in a dialogue for peace. In addition, he is president of his own pharmaceutical research and development firm, Beta Chem Inc.
"I cannot help but get involved," El-Sherif said of his outreach. His experience as a refugee is one reason for his involvement. Born in Sinai, a part of northeastern Egypt, he fled to Cairo with his family during the War of 1967 when he was 11 years old.
As a result, El-Sherif sees diversity as a gift to be celebrated, said David Nelson, a retired Lutheran minister who has worked with El-Sherif on interfaith activities.
El-Sherif came to the United States in 1979 for graduate school. While at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arizona, he brought the Muslim communities together and encouraged interfaith dialogue. At the same time, he embarked on humanitarian efforts. He traveled to Afghanistan while still a graduate student.
He moved to the Kansas City area in 1989. In the early 1990s, he founded the American Muslim Council of Greater Kansas City to give Muslims a voice and bring members to the mainstream.
He also became involved in Heart to Heart International. Barbi Moore, senior vice president of international programming, has worked with him since the organization's formation in the Kansas City area. He has had a big impact on the organization, said Moore, who now works at the Oklahoma City office.
She was impressed with his dedication to make sure everyone in need received help, not just Muslims, when the group provided medical supplies to victims of the Bosnian war in 1993.
His local interfaith efforts include organizing Kansas City churches, mosques and synagogues in the mid-1990s to send assistance to rebuild black churches in the South that burned.
After Sept. 11, 2001, El-Sherif found his role as a spokesperson for the Muslim community becoming more important. But his message did not change.
"We live in a time in our history when communication and distance became shorter," he said. "Unless we learn to respect one another, we could have an unhealthy environment."
Nelson said El-Sherif had an impact the year following Sept. 11 when they traveled to Lindsborg, Kan., where there is not a Muslim community.
"He just presented such a positive and very articulate presentation," Nelson said. "People really began to open their minds and hearts."
Vern Barnet, president and resident minister of CRES (Center for Religious Experience and Study), said people relate to El-Sherif because he speaks from the heart.
"Although he has a vast knowledge of his faith, he's able to communicate it in very human terms," Barnet said.
El-Sherif has continued to support refugees. Ahmed Rizvanovic, a victim of war, came from Bosnia to Kansas City for surgery in 1994. El-Sherif met Rizvanovic in the hospital, and the two remain close.
Rizvanovic lived with El-Sherif while he recuperated and adjusted to his new life. Now Rizvanovic is 30 years old and lives in Kansas City, Kan.
"I know him like a big brother, like family," said Rizvanovic, who also got to know El-Sherif's three kids: Fatimeh, 20; Yusuf, 18; and Zakaria, 16.
Art Chaudry, who is involved in the Muslim community, said El-Sherif's charity stands out. "He is very selfless in his pursuit of the many goals he is involved in," Chaudry said.{lt}/body{gt} NAME: Ahmed El-Sherif
ROLE: Leader in the Muslim community
ACTION: Organized the first interfaith conference in Kansas City, co-organized the International Conference of Parliamentarians in Belgium and co-organized a conference in Kansas City on children's rights. He has helped refugees in the United States, and sent medical relief abroad as founder and president of Shifa International
From Kansas City to Bosnia, Ahmed El-Sherif reaches out to people of all backgrounds.
El-Sherif, 48, is a leader in the Muslim community and encourages interfaith dialogue. He speaks at many forums, organized the first interfaith conference in Kansas City, co-organized the International Conference of Parliamentarians that 200 countries attended in Belgium and co-organized a conference in Kansas City on children's rights.
Copyright 2004 The Kansas City Star Co.
Ahmed was the only Muslim leader from Kansas City invited to celebrate the 2006 June opening of a mosque at the Quantico base, side by side with other faiths. The lower photo shows him with Deputy Secretary of Defense England and a group of Muslim leaders. Ahmed says, "It is indeed a major milestone of including Muslims in the fabric of the American society. That shows, America is for all of us." The event was attended by leaders of the Muslim communities in the USA and representatives of various Embassies from the Muslim world.
Dear Friends--
Ahmed and I and two other friends visited Congressman Emanuel Cleaver today for his advice in planning a trip to the Middle East.
Ahmed must wear large shoes because his feet are swollen and we walks with an imbalance, but feeling is returning to the damaged side. He is in good spirits and eager to promote the cause of human understanding and peace.
Vern
Mar 11
Dear Friends--
We expect Ahmed to return early
this week to Kansas City!
Thanks for everyone's prayers,
to Yolanda, to his amazing children!
Vern
Mar 9
Dear Friends--
Ahmed just called. He is making rapid progress, out of the ICU. He walked a bit today. He is looking forward to returning to KC, although just when is not decided, and will undergo physical theapy here. He completed his project before the accident, and the company is giving him additional work and appreciation. Let's keep praying for his rapid recovery and for him and his family as they move ahead from this very difficult incident.
VernMar 8
Dear Friends--
Fatimah called a short while ago
from the hospital near Ft Collins. I also spoke with Yolanda. We now know
that Ahmed's incident was caused by exposure to chemicals with which Ahmed
was working. His condition has markedly improved, but it may take months
of therapy for full recovery
since he was lying on one side
for so long before he was discovered and damage occurred. His kidneys are
working hard and improving as the chemical is being flushed from his body
with hydration. He can speak well. He may be in ICU for several more days,
then in a regular room. Fatimah thanks everyone for their continuing
prayers.
Vern Barnet
