FRANCE

Amara Bamba is chief editor of Saphir-Médiation, a non-profit association aiming to create a suitable Islamic media in France. Saphir-Médiation is particularly interested in the image of French Muslims and their interaction with French society. Previously, he has leaded the French Islamic Students Association (FISA) which is the first Muslim association created in 1962 by Professor Muhammad Hamidullah (1908 - 2002). As a FISA leader, M. BAMBA has edited "Le Musulman" (The Muslim, in French language), the first Islamic magazine in France publishing scientific issues and political analysis on Islamic topics. To reach the French Muslim teenagers, he undertook to complete « Le Musulman » with « Le Musulman Junior », a magazine dedicated to Islamic basic teachings. Amara BAMBA has published tens of papers explaining Islamic positions and exposing Muslims reality in France and in Africa. Since 1999, he weekly publishes editorials which is the first French daily web magazine dedicated to Islamic information.

Before his journalistic involvement, Amara BAMBA has leaded the Muslim Pupils and Students Association of Ivory Coast (in West Africa). From 1983 to 1986, he has organized annual international conferences for West African youth in Ivory Coast on « Islam and Education »; « Muslim student and the challenge of modernity »; etc. He has also created the Student Islamic center including a mosque, and an Islamic library for Muslim students in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). M. Bamba's later achievement is the «Collectif Muhammad Hamidullah», which an organization is named after Pr. Muhammad Hamidullah who lived fifty years in France and is the first Muslim to translate the whole Koran into French language. This organization, M. BAMBA created three years ago, aims to collect, protect and promote the patrimony of Muslim intellectual of the West. Collectif Hamidullah holds an annual international meeting on the 16th or 17th of December gathering 300 people in Paris to pay tribute to the Muslim intellectuals. Amara Bamba is Vice-President of Collectif Hamidullah. Born in Man (Ivory Coast - West Africa), Amara Bamba graduated in Mathematics at Pierre et Marie-Curie University in Paris. He then passed the degree of Mathematics for teachers. Professionally, he teaches Mathematics in a school for civil engineer's assistants.

City: Paris

Chiheb M'Nasser began his professional career as an administrator at Villeroy and Boch. He then continued to work for the Counsel of Air Legislation and Security and later became a lawyer in training at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Mr. Nasser strengthened his legal expertise working with the League of Human Rights (Ligue de Droits de l'Hommes), where he studied the question of secular society (laïcité) accommodating greater immigrant rights. He completed his legal degree in public affairs at Paris University XII in Saint Maur in 2003, where he wrote, "The Re-nationalization of Public Enterprises in Great Britain". Later continuing his studies at Paris University XII, he attained a degree in the History of European Law. He then attended DULCO (Diploma of Oriental Language and Civilization) and focused on the Middle East through the study of the Syrian-Lebanese dialect in Arab literature. While attending DULCO, he wrote on the notion of Imam at in Shi'ism and on the history of Arab civilization with Henry Laurens, a French historian and specialist in orientalist studies. He furthered his education by attending Science Politique, a prestigious university in France, where he specialized in Political Science. There, he wrote, "The Arab World under the socio-political prism of the Diplomatic World".

City: Limeil Brevannes

Nabil Ennasri is the president of the "Association of Muslim's Students of Aix-en-Provence" founded in November 2003. The mission of the association is to build unity amongst Muslims students and to organize debates, discussions and conferences on the theme of Islam in general. Nabil was born in France, in the city of Laval (North-West of France) but has lived in the city of Aix-en-Provence near Marseille (South of France) since 2000. He is currently enrolled at the Political Science Institute of Aix-en-Provence from where he will graduate in June with a Master's Degree in Political Sciences. Nabil's graduate focus is Arabic and the Muslim World. Nabil's undergraduate major was Modern Arabic as well. Nabil has successfully completed three training courses in the Gulf region (in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar). He has also attended trainings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France. His previous writings include a report on Muslim cults in France, in particular in the town of Marseille, under the direction of Bruno Etienne (a specialist on Islam in France). Currently Nabil is writing a report on students in Qatar under the direction of François Burgat.

Nadia Sweeny is a 24 year old Parisian following her passion of Muslim affairs as a journalist with Saphirnews.com. She pursued her education at Université Panthéon Assas and this past year, attained a degree in Communication Information. Her thesis surveyed the topic of the war in Chechnya. She is currently working with Saphirnews.com as a journalist. Saphirnews.com is the first French publication focused solely on Muslim issues.

City: Paris

Rachid Nekkaz is a Writer, Candidate for the French Presidency (2007) and President of a Mayor's Association named "Allez France". "Allez France" promotes automatic registration for each citizen to be able to vote in France (3.2 million persons are not registered). He is the author of three books; one about youth in the suburbs, another on financial scandals and the third, an interview of the leaders of the G7 at the turn of the year 2000. He has produced 200 articles on radio, TV and press over the last 10 years. His most recent interview regarded his candidacy for the presidency, on Reuters TV. Born in Villeneuve St Georges, France, he has been awarded the French "City and Citizenship Award" in 1998 for his book on youth in the sensitive French suburbs Website: www.nekkaz.com.

Redouane Aboueddahab is a Professor of American studies at the University of Lyon2, France, and chair and founder of FORMIDEC (International Forum for the Dialogue between Civilizations), whose aim is the promotion of constructive and dialogues and actions between different cultures, and especially between Western and Muslim cultures. "De la violence à la parole" (From violence to speech") is one of the programs created by FORMIDEC, a monthly cycle of conferences and debates dealing with the various historical and ethical links between the West and the East. Other than the works published in the field of American studies, he is currently writing with Etienne Duval, a Dominican sociologist, a book on founding myths in Islam and Christianity. Rédouane Aboueddahab's Arabic background, his Muslim and French culture, and his filed of specialization in American studies allow him to analyze in a very specific manner the cultural relations between Western and Muslim cultures. He was born in Meknès, Morocco, and partly educated in Lyon, France where he acquired a PhD in American studies. He has lived in Lyon, France for more than twenty years.

Soumicha Ghezzal attained her education in Communication and Information and is a licensed professional. She is currently a teacher for students with mental handicaps and is training to become a professor of children 3 to 11 years of age. Ms Ghezzal is experienced in inter-cultural and inter-religious relations and works with Muslim and non-Muslim organizations on this topic. She is currently aiding the Collectif Hamidullah in their vision to preserve and promote the intellectual heritage of Muslims in Europe.

Youcef Mammeri is a Member of the Islamic Committee of Laicité. Previously, he was an elected administrator for communication at CRCM PACA (the Regional Council of the Moslem Worship of 2003 UNTIL 2005). Youcef was also represented the Islah Mosque of Marseilles at the consultation on the Organization of the Moslem Worship in France with the Ministry for the Interior from 1999 to 2003. He is also a member of the Collective of the Moslems of France (CMF) and a member of the Mediterranean Institute of Moslem Studies in Marseilles (I.M.E.M.). Over the last decade, Youcef has organized and partaken in many conferences around issues of Muslim integration and Islamic education in France, including: in November 2006, Paris: "Muslim Christian women in France and Germany" organized by the Protestant Federation of France; March 2006, Paris: "PARI(S) DU VIVRE ENSEMBLE" organized with Esther Benbassa and Jean Christophe Attias. Youcef frequently appears and is cited in reports, articles in the media as well as television and radio debates. Youcef's published writing include: "Islam in French Society" in Migrations and Companies, n84, Nov.-Dec. 2002(edition of the CIEMI), several articles in "Islam in France", "Medina", OUMMA.COM, and Tribune « Aux sources du délit vestimentaire » in the daily LIBERATION, 12 December 2003. Youcef was born in Marseille in 1971.

City: Marseille