Khurram Dara

Khurram Dara is the author of The Crescent Directive: An essay on improving the image of Islam in America, published by Tensile Consulting and promoted by MuslimMatters.org. At its peak, it was the Amazon #1 Best Selling eBook on Islam, and among the top 50 best selling books in the entire religion genre. He has written for various news outlets including CNN.com, The Washington Post, and The Huffington Post. He has also spoken at colleges across the country including the University of North Carolina, the University of Minnesota, and Columbia University. Currently, he is a student at Columbia Law School.

The Crescent Directive
According to Dara, The Crescent Directive is a strategy that shows "how PTA Meetings, Thanksgiving Dinner, and Little League baseball will improve the image of Islam in America." It proposes a strategy for American Muslims that calls for building personal connections and making visible investment in American culture. Dara has opined for various news outlets.

The foreword to The Crescent Directive was written by Hamid Khan, a Rule of Law advisor from the United States Institute of Peace.

On Muslims and Politics
He has also noted that the Republican party should be a natural fit for the American Muslim community, but that hateful rhetoric about Islam and Muslims from Republican candidates has alienated the Muslim electorate.

On Affirmative Action
He has opposed affirmative action on the grounds that "two wrongs don't make a right" and because of the potential for achievements by minorities to be tainted on the ground that they were achieved solely on the basis of affirmative action.

Khurram Dara, April 2008, Emory College Republicans and College Democrats debate

Critical Reception
Reza Aslan, author and founder of AslanMedia

Maria Kari, The Nation

Muslimah Media Watch

Hena Zuberi, Editor-in-Chief, Musimmatters.org

Dr. David Liepert, author and radio host

Education and Personal Life
Dara was born in Houston, Texas and is the son of Pakistani immigrants. He graduated from Emory University and is a student at Columbia Law School. While studying at Emory, he led the Emory Trial Team to its first regional title in school history.

He is a native of Amherst, NY.