Two Palestinians Win Membership in the Inaugural Cohort of the Global "Azm" Fellowship for Muslim Leaders

SadaNews - Two Palestinians have achieved a new milestone by winning membership in the inaugural cohort of the "Azm" Global Fellowship for Muslim Leaders (AGL), after being selected among 25 Muslim leaders from over 2,700 applicants worldwide, in one of the most competitive international programs for preparing young leaders.

The "Azm" Global Fellowship, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and San Francisco, USA, announced the launch of the first cohort of its fully funded global leadership program, which spans two years and aims to prepare a new generation of Muslim leaders capable of leading institutions and communities amid accelerating global challenges, by combining intellectual, moral, and strategic preparation and drawing on the Islamic cultural heritage.

The selection of the fellows came after an intensive competitive process, where the organization received over 2,700 nomination applications, with only 88 candidates qualifying for interviews, before the final choice was made for 25 leaders representing diverse countries, specialties, and professional backgrounds, including two Palestinians who secured their places in this founding cohort.

The inaugural cohort from Palestine includes Omar Al-Tamimi and Mohammad Murtaqa. Omar Al-Tamimi, a Palestinian-American, is active in policy and legislation, focusing on promoting health equity through public sector reform, and is currently leading efforts in California to analyze budgets, draft legislation, and influence funding decisions related to health and humanitarian services.

On the other hand, Mohammad Murtaqa, a Palestinian from Gaza, is a specialist in development policies and a writer working in governance and post-conflict reconstruction fields. He is currently pursuing his graduate studies at the University of Cambridge, alongside his work in policy analysis related to the reconstruction of Gaza. He also established the GazaIndex platform, specialized in gathering and displaying humanitarian data related to the region.
Mona Abu Suleiman, the founder of "Azm" and one of the prominent Arab voices in leadership and social impact fields, stated: "Investing in exceptional youth is one of the strongest ways to shape the future," emphasizing that the future will not be shaped by the loudest voices, but rather by leaders who have the wisdom to navigate complexity, the courage to uphold principles, and the humility to serve a cause greater than themselves.

Abu Suleiman added that launching the first cohort represents the beginning of building a global system of principled Muslim leaders, contributing to the preparation of leaders who combine professional excellence, moral clarity, cultural confidence, and a responsibility to serve humanity.

The "Azm" program differs from traditional leadership programs by focusing on building the leader's identity and values before developing their leadership skills. It combines the latest knowledge in leadership and management, conflict resolution, and cultural competency, alongside an in-depth study of the Islamic intellectual and cultural heritage, under the guidance of a selection of scholars and specialists.

The "Azm" program starts from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, through an inaugural summit that brings together fellows with scholars, experts, and practitioners from around the world, before completing the program, which relies on a model that combines remote learning, individual mentoring, collaborative projects, and annual in-person meetings.

The "Azm" Global Leadership (AGL) is a prestigious global leadership initiative dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and empowering a select group of exceptional young Muslim leaders aged between 22 and 29. Through a world-class educational experience, specialized mentorship by experts, and a rich international network including fellows, scholars, and leaders, "Azm" provides participants with the knowledge, skills, relationships, and strategic vision that enable them to create sustainable impact and lead quality initiatives based on excellence, purpose, and positive change.