Arif Alikhan

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[edit] Bio & News

Arif Alikhan is the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. where he leads a team of policy analysts, scientists, and economists responsible for coordinating, analyzing, and developing policy issues for securing the United States against terrorists and natural threats.[1] Alikhan's roots are Sunni Muslim. His parents brought the family to Caifornia from Canada in the late 1970s. His father was from India, his mother from Pakistan.[2]

In a statement on April 24, 2009 by Secretary Napolitano on President Obama's intent to nominate Arif Alikhan as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development, she said:

[Arif Alikhan] bring[s] a broad and impressive array of experience in national security, emergency preparedness and counterterrorism to the Department...Arif comes from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa’s office, where he served as Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety. As a key adviser to the Mayor, he has led the City’s efforts to develop homeland security, emergency management and law enforcement initiatives, including operational oversight of Los Angeles Police, Fire and Emergency Management departments. He is a former federal prosecutor and senior advisor to the U.S. Attorney General, and has partnered extensively with local, state and federal agencies.[3]

On the same DHS page, his biography is described as follows:

Before serving as Deputy Mayor, Alikhan was a career prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice from 1997-2006. During that time, he served as Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Crimes Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles and as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. Attorney General in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw the national Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Program for the Department of Justice. Alikhan holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.

On May 30, 2009 Alikhan was a scheduled speaker at Islamic Shura Council of Southern California (ISCSC) banquet/fundraiser in celebration of its 15th anniversary. Other speakers included Professor Jamal Badawi, Professor Agha Saeed of the American Muslim Task Force, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, the outgoing Chair of the ISCSC, and Shakeel Syed.[4]

[edit] Questionable Decisions & Ties?

Arif Alikhan played a key role in the removal of the LAPD "Mapping" Plan[5] which involved mapping Muslim communities in an effort to identify potential hotbeds of extremism. LAPD officials said that it was crucial for them to gain a better understanding of isolated parts of the Muslim community because those groups can potentially breed violent extremism.[6]

Alikhan reportedly helped raise funds for Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) that has labeled a deadly anti-U.S. terrorist attack a legitimate operation, referred to terrorists as "freedom fighters" and equated Muslim jihad with the sentiments of American statesman Patrick Henry.[7] He joined MPAC on April 11 for a special fundraiser called "Be the Change" to support what the group calls its innovative leadership development programs.[8]

  • For more information about MPAC's questionable ties, see Steven Emerson's The Investigative Project on Terrorism articles.

[edit] See Also

[edit] Other Muslim public figures in America

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Assistant Secretary for Policy Development: Arif Alikhan - U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  2. ↑ Obama Administration taps Southland Muslim for top post - Frank Stoltze - Southern California Public Radio (89.3 KPPC), July 27, 2009
  3. ↑ Statement by Secretary Napolitano on President Obama's Intent to Nominate David Heyman as Assistant Secretary for Policy and her Appointment of Arif Alikhan as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development - U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  4. ↑ Islamic Shura Council Celebration - TMO - Muslim Media Network, June 4, 2009
  5. ↑ Muslims Welcome Removal of LAPD's Mapping Program - Muslim Public Affairs Council, November 16, 2007
  6. ↑ LAPD defends Muslim mapping effort - Richard Winton, Teresa Watanabe & Greg Krikorian - Los Angelos Times, November 10, 2007
  7. ↑ Napolitano pick raised funds for terror supporter - Aaron Klein - WorldNetDaily, July 20, 2009
  8. ↑ Be The Change - Join MPAC for a Fundraiser to Support our Young Leaders Programs - Muslim Public Affairs Council, April 6, 2009
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