Pakistani-American scholar Dr. Agha Saeed, who devoted his life to amplifying the political voice of the American Muslim community, passed away in Monterey, California.
Tributes poured in from academics, political activists, and leaders of Muslim organizations as they recalled his services for the Muslim community, especially in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States.
Saeed, who came to the United States in 1974, pursued higher education, earning a Ph.D. from Berkeley and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and then serving as a professor in the communications and political science departments at Berkeley and California State University in Hayward.
During the 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century, Dr. Saeed provided intellectual leadership to the Muslim community with the establishment of the American Muslim community, urging them to take part in the democratic process and be a part of American political conversation.
American Muslims just lost a legendary leader. Dr. Agha Saeed passed away after a long life of guiding and giving to our communities in America and beyond. He will be missed.
Our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajeoon.##DrAghaSaeed pic.twitter.com/T1ZHb1P0mN— Nihad Awad (@NihadAwad) February 19, 2021
Dr. Saeed’s political activism took a unified expression from the platform of the American Muslim Alliance, the organization he established and shepherded to bring together Muslim leaders from all over the country. The AMA established more than 100 chapters across the United States.
He led the Muslim community in multiple conversations with both Democrats and Republicans, something that assumed much greater importance after the 9/11 events.
He conveyed American Muslims’ views to President George W Bush and urged President Barack Obama to help resolve the Palestinian question.
Saeed, who was born in Quetta, elevated political talk on the Palestinian and Kashmir disputes.
He passed away at the age of 73, having endured Parkinson’s disease, which kept him away from public life for many years. But his efforts to raise political awareness among American Muslims organized and motivated many in the younger generation to take part in the mainstream democratic processes.
