April 11, 2013

MPAC is proud to announce that Shams Ghoneim, President of MPAC’s Iowa Chapter, was recently named president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Iowa.

ACLU Iowa is a private, non-partisan, non-profit group that fights to advance civil liberties for all. It is the state affiliate of the national ACLU.

Ghoneim is an Egyptian-American Muslim who has been an Iowa resident for 44 years. Ghoneim was the former President of the Johnson County Consultation of Religious Communities, and is an ongoing member. She is an active participant in interfaith dialogue, a frequent editorial writer, and serves as a community member of the Iowa City Press-Citizen Editorial Board.

In the past few months, Ghoneim has written editorials on the occupation of the West Bank and violation of Palestinian's human rights and Rep. Michelle Bachmann's (R-MN) baseless claims that the Muslim Brotherhood is infiltrating the U.S. government through organizations.

Ghoneim is a strong community leader who gives voice to the voiceless and continues to work for peace and justice. Ghoneim's new position will only continue to enhance the community and the lives of Iowans. 

Ghoneim also is an executive committee member of the Iowa City Eman Islamic Center and former executive committee member of the Mother Mosque of America. Ghoneim has been actively lecturing on Islam at the University of Iowa and across the state, involved with interfaith dialogue for 10 years and is a University of Iowa Speaker Bureau Member on Islam.