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Mishary ibn al-Rashid al-'Afasy is known by every Muslim. Thanks to his musical voice that spread over the Internet he is probably the most famous Quran reciter of the entire Islamic history. Mishary studied in Medina Munawwara the Quran and is known for having mastered reading all ten types perfectly. He is also a Nasheed producer and the imam of the large central mosque in Kuwait. He runs his own TV station (Al-Afasy TV), which can be received via Nilesat throughout the Arab region and in much of Europe. Mishary will perform live for the first time in the German-speaking world on the coming 19^th of February at the ICCS annual conference.

Sheikh Yusuf Estes: "Ask the One, who created you, to guide you to the truth." (USA)

Yusuf Estes was a highly committed evangelical missionary and he hated Islam.  How can it be that a Christian priest embraces Islam and after this becomes the best know Muslim preacher of the USA? "Ask the One, who created you to guide you to the truth", Yusuf Estes says today. He became well-known also outside the USA by numerous appearances on Islam Channel, Peace TV and Huda TV, as well as by his activity as a delegate of the summit meeting of religious leaders of the UN. Internationally well known are his English-language TV-programs for children "Qisas ul Anbiya" – Stories of the Prophets.

Prof. Dr. Shefqet Krasniqi (Kosovo)

Shefqet Krasniqi is of Kosovar Albanian origin. He studied 15 years Islamic law in Medina and graduated successfully with a master and doctorate degree. Back home, he took the post of Imam in the great mosque in Pristina, where he has been working until today. In addition, he taught for seven years as a professor of Islamic law at the faculty in the capital. He is the author of several books and regularly writes columns and articles in various Albanian newspapers on Islamic issues.

Yvonne Ridley: "There was no brainwashing and no Stockholm Syndrome. The Qur'an changed my life." (UK)

After the attacks of 9/11 the British reporter travelled through Pakistan to Afghanistan to report for the "Sunday Express" about George W. Bush's "War on Terror". On her way back on a donkey, wrapped in a Burqa, the camera slipped from her shoulder in the border area. Promptly she was arrested by the Taliban and taken to a prison in Kabul. "The people at home probably thought that I was beaten, tortured or sexually abused", Ridley said in an interview. "Instead of this, friendliness, hospitality and respect radiated to me in the prison", she is telling. During her captivity she promised to an Imam to read the Qur'an after her release. Ridley kept this promise and says: "The Qur'an changed my life." She describes the Qur'an as "Magna Charta for Women". In summer 2003 Ridley embraced Islam. At present she is working as a freelance journalist for the English Iranian news channel Press TV.

Nicolas Blancho: "We must actively support Muslims in developing an Islamic self-understanding in Switzerland." (CH)

A wider public noted the name Nicolas Blancho for the first time shortly after the initiative against minarets. With 16 years Blancho embraced Islam. From 2002 to 2006 he studied at the Institute for Studies and Research on Islam in Paris Islamic theology and law. After his degree he pursued further studies in the Middle East and specialized on master level in basic principles of Islamic jurisprudence. Today he is studying Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and Law at the University of Berne. He is fluent at German and French, as well as at Arabic. Blancho wants Islam to get into an institutional frame in Switzerland. For this the Muslims need an established theological authority to deal with those Islamic issues, which can not be derived directly from the normativity. In addition, the president of the ICCS strives to actively support Muslims in developing an "Islamic self-understanding in the Swiss society. By this we mean the promotion of an active process of identity formation as 'Swiss Muslims'", says Blancho.

Nora Illi: "My appearance doesn't give information about my character. I am perceived as a person and not as an object." (CH)

"I personally don't know any Muslima, who doesn't wear the veil voluntarily", said the mostly best known niqab-wearer of Switzerland, Nora Illi, in the online chat of the newspaper "Blick". Not only with bold comments as "Who said, that God doesn't like make-up? I also like to put on make-up in private or at events for women", the director of the department of women's matters of the ICCS stands exemplary for the rights of the Muslim women. She is also always ready to offer forehead to political and ideological opponents. Nora Illi embraced Islam in the age of 18 years. The trained polygraph is mother of four children and therefore she brings not only knowledge but also experience to her work for the rights of the women in Islam. 

Adem Ramadani – the best known "Ilahije" singer of the Albanian-speaking Balkan. (Kosovo)

It is not necessary to explain who Adem Ramadani is. He is the epitome of Nasheed ("Ilahije") in Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and large parts of Serbia and Montenegro. Due to his reputation, he is one of the most popular Muslim singers in the Albanian-speaking diaspora in Western Europe. With his last work "Fukaraja" (2009) he has again outbid of all his previous albums and reached with it easily the charts. Together with Sami Yusuf he sang the famous song "Ti oh Mohammed". Well known songs and video clips from him are "Shiko si I mashtrom shejtani rinin", "Gjith kundi ka hy sheri" or "Te duhemi per ALLAH".

Masum from Labbayk with «the best of…» of «Rhymes of Praise» and the new Album «O my Lord» (UK)

The British Nasheed group Labbayk founded in 2004 is not only well known in Great Britain, but being also invited to events worldwide. The very first album "Rhymes of Praise" was an immediate international success. The top hits also include "The Lord of the Worlds" and "Best of Creation". The new album "O MY LORD" just appeared. The group now consists of the singers Masum, Ehsaan and Imran. As all members of Labbayk are working, often not the whole group may appear on stage, but only its lead singer Masum. He is also the one who will sing Nasheeds of the albums "Rhymes of Praise" and "O my Lord" at the Annual Conference of the ICCS.

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