Salam Al-Marayati

Nationally recognized for his commitment to advancing public understanding of Islam and policies affecting American Muslims, Salam Al-Marayati is the president and co-founder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). He leads MPAC’s pioneering work in civic engagement, public policy, and advocacy. An expert on Islam in the West, Muslim reform movements, human rights, democracy, national security, and Middle East politics, Salam has spoken at the White House, on Capitol Hill, and represented the United States at international conferences on human rights and religious freedom. His writings have been published in major national outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. He has also been featured in interviews on national and international news platforms such as ABC, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, Fox News, and C-SPAN. Believing that community development is vital to integrating Muslims into America’s pluralistic society, Salam has conducted hundreds of civic engagement workshops nationwide—from small community rooms to large conference halls. He serves as an adjunct faculty member at Bayan Claremont, sits on the board of the Muslim Reform Institute, and advises several political, civic, and academic institutions on Islam and Muslims in America and beyond. A longtime interfaith leader, Salam was co-chair of the Interfaith Coalition to Heal Los Angeles, formed after the 1992 L.A. uprisings.