Mohamed Al Hassan (aka Mohamed Elhasan Mohamed) (born 1961) is a Sudanese American entrepreneur.[1][2] He has also twice campaigned to become the President of Sudan (in 2010 and 2015).[3]
Mohamed Al Hassan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 |
| Nationality | Sudanese |
| Other names |
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| Education | |
| Political party | Sudan National Reform Party |
| Movement | Reformist |
| Spouses |
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| Parent | Elhassan Mohammed (father) |
| Relatives |
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Background
editHe earned a degree in philosophy from Cairo University[4] in Khartoum before moving from Sudan to the United States in the 1980s. In the states, he sold newspapers, candy and hot dogs on a corner in Manhattan, New York City[citation needed]. Wishing to expand on his ambitions, he then moved to Dallas, Texas and delivered pizzas before driving taxi cabs, eventually founding a company called Jet Taxi, which he later sold to Yellow Cab[citation needed]. He also expanded his education at Spring Creek Community College in Plano[citation needed]. In addition to Jet Taxi, Mohamed created other companies, 'Paradise Prime Investment' in America[citation needed], and the solar energy development company 'AlSufi International' in Sudan.[4][3] He currently serves as the president of the Al Sufi Center in Irving, Texas, and as vice president of the Sudan National Reform Party[citation needed].
Though his name did not appear the ballots,[5] he ran against Omar al-Bashir for the office of Sudan President in both 2010 and 2015.[6][1] An April 2015 Bloomberg Business report stated that of President Omar al-Bashir's competitors, Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed "had the most ambitious agenda".[7]
He is a Sufi Muslim who directs the Islamic Sufi Center in Texas, established in the early 1990s.[2] He also leads a Sufi house of worship in Irving[citation needed]. In this capacity he defended the Quran in a mock jury trial against Christian fundamentalist Rev. Terry Jones,[8] but was greatly surprised and saddened by Jones choosing to burn the Quran as part of his exhibition, and the three days of violent response which resulted in Afghanistan.[9]
In late 2013 a furor arose out of an Arabic-language email circulating that promised to assist parties in acquiring land in and traveling to Sudan, and resulted from the larger-than-expected turn-out of those interested in taking part.[10]
He is married to Muna Ahmed Ibraham,[4] and is the father of Ahmed Mohamed, who was arrested and suspended from attending his high school after bringing in to school a digital clock he had assembled that a teacher believed looked like a hoax bomb, which sparked a controversy over Islamophobia, childhood experimentation and zero-tolerance policies.[11][12] Mohamed holds dual citizenship in both Sudan and the United States.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b NDG Staff (February 15, 2015). "Irving resident makes his second bid for election as President of Sudan". North Dallas Gazette. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
- ^ a b هديل عرجة, (Arja Hadeel) (September 22, 2015). "والد مخترع "الساعة القنبلة" من سائق تاكسي إلى مرشح رئاسي.. لقاء خاص (Ahmed Mohamed's Family Has Come A Long Way From Sudan To Texas)" (in Arabic). HuffPost Arabi. Retrieved September 23, 2015. Huffington Post English translation
- ^ a b Klein, Alyssa (September 16, 2015). "The Surprising Backstory Behind #IStandWithAhmed's 2-Time Sudanese Presidential Candidate Father". OkayAfrica. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ a b c Ashford, Ben (September 17, 2015). "American dream of family of Texas teen Ahmed Mohamed handcuffed for his clock". Florida Newstime. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ Nelson, Libby (September 16, 2015). "Ahmed Mohamed's father had his own nasty run-in with Islamophobia". Vox. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ staff (February 16, 2015). "Sudan presidential contender vows to lift US sanctions in first 100 days if elected". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ staff (April 12, 2015). "Bashir Seen Winning Sudan Re-Election as Opposition Split". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ Michels, Patrick (April 4, 2011). "Why Mohamed Alhassan the Dallas Imam who played defense attorney in Qur'an torching church says he admires Terry Jones". Dallas Observer. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
- ^ Gowen, Annie (April 6, 2011). "Muslim at Koran 'trial says he didn't know the holy book would be burned". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
- ^ Kalthoff, Ken Kalthoff (December 16, 2013). "Land in Sudan Helps Attract Large Irving Crowd" (news article & video clip (flash)). NBC 5 DFW. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ staff (September 17, 2015). "Sudanese-American teenager becomes center of world attention after school arrest". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ Golgowski, Nina (September 16, 2015). "Father of Muslim teen arrested for clock previously battled Fla. Koran burner, has run for president of Sudan twice". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ "Sudan presidential contender vows to lift US sanctions in first 100 days if elected". Sudan Tribune. February 15, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.