Alkhateeb, Sharifa (1946–2004)
Alkhateeb, Sharifa (1946–2004)
Muslim-American feminist, scholar, and journalist. Born Sharifa Ahmad, June 6, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died Oct 12, 2004, in Ashburn, Virginia; dau. of a Yemini father and Czech mother; sister of Nafeesa Ahmad; attended University of Pennsylvania; Norwich University, MA in comparative religion; m. Mejdi Alkhateeb (Iraqi-born US citizen), 1969; children: daughters Layla, Maha, and Nasreen Alkhateeb.
Advocate for Muslim culture in US, lived in Saudi Arabia (1978–87); helped place courses in Middle Eastern cultures and Arabic in US public schools; founded the North American Council for Muslim Women (1992); created the Peaceful Families Project (2000), to raise awareness of domestic violence in Muslim communities; co-authored The Arab World Notebook, wrote for the English-language Saudi Gazette, and edited an English translation of the Koran.