Abdul Karim Paz (born Santiago Ricardo Paz Zuberbühler Bullrich) is an Argentine Shi'i sheikh, head imam of the At-Tauhid ("the Oneness") mosque in the Floresta neighbourhood. He is known for holding pro-Iran views on AMIA bombing case.[4] Paz serves also as a representative of Organización Islámica Argentina.[5]
Abdul Karim Paz | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Born | Santiago Ricardo Paz Zuberbühler Bullrich[1] |
| Religion | Islam |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Spouse | Masuma Assad[1] (born Roxana Elizabeth Assad)[2] |
| Children | Fátima, Miriam, Nur[1] |
| Parents | |
| Denomination | Shia |
| Alma mater | University of Buenos Aires (Licentiate in Philosophy), Al-Mustafa International University (Master's in Islamic theology)[3] |
He holds close links with social leader Luis D'Elía and piquetero leader Fernando Esteche, as well as with Mohsen Rabbani, former cultural attaché at the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires and accused in the AMIA trial.[1][6][7]
Biography edit
Paz is descended from an aristocratic Argentine family. He was educated at the elitist Catholic school San Martín de Tours but later converted to Islam, at the age of 18, after becoming acquainted with Arab and Islamic cultures through a college professor, while pursuing philosophy studies at UBA.[8] He then spent 5 years studying in Qom, Iran, studying Islamic jurisprudence and theology at the Al-Mustafa International University, returning to Buenos Aires in 1993 with the honorific title of Hujjat al-Islam and a master's degree in Islamic theology.[8][9] He then briefly moved to Santiago Chile, where he set up an Islamic cultural centre.[5] His wife, Masuma Assad Paz, is the head of the Argentine Muslim Women's League, the editor of Moazzen, and director of the activities of the Argentine Islamic Aid and Relief Committee and the Argentine Islamic Cultural Institute.[10]
Paz is a cousin of Patricia Bullrich and close relative to Esteban Bullrich, both of them being Ministers of the Macri administration.[1][5]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "El sheij iraní que es primo de Patricia Bullrich", En Orsai, Retrieved 04 August 2018 (in Spanish)
- ^ a b c "Santiago Ricardo Paz Zuberbühler Bullrich", Genealogía Familiar, Retrieved 04 August 2018
- ^ "Abdul Karim Paz", Twitter, Retrieved 04 August 2018 (in Spanish)
- ^ "Argentinos que estudian para ayatollahs" Archived 2017-12-30 at the Wayback Machine, Clarín, Retrieved 04 August 2018 (in Spanish)
- ^ a b c "Sheikh Abdul Karim Paz", Center for Security Policy, Retrieved 04 August 2018
- ^ "La conexión islámica de la denuncia de Nisman", Infobae, Retrieved 04 August 2018 (in Spanish)
- ^ "Pensé que Nisman podía llegar a estar en peligro", dijo un allegado de Rabbani", Infobae, Retrieved 04 August 2018 (in Spanish)
- ^ a b "Isis, Estado Islamico y organizaciones extremistas en Medio Oriente", YouTube, Retrieved 04 August 2018
- ^ "Argentinos al islam", La Nación, Retrieved 04 August 2018 (in Spanish)
- ^ "The mounting Hezbollah threat in Latin America", American Enterprise Institute, Retrieved 04 August 2018