Anila Ali, President and co-founder of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC), has been awarded the prestigious International Religious Freedom (IRF) Builders Award for her exceptional leadership in advancing peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue, and defending religious freedom worldwide.
Presented by the IRF Builders Forum and Roger Williams IRF Award, this honor celebrates individuals and organizations showing outstanding commitment to religious freedom and unity among diverse communities.
Ali, who co-founded AMMWEC in 2009, has spearheaded numerous initiatives including internships with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, helplines for women, and interfaith Ramadan iftars bringing together Muslims, Christians, Jews, Bahais, and Hindus.
Beyond her AMMWEC role, Ali chairs the IRF Roundtable for Pakistan, where she actively advocates for religious minorities, visiting affected communities in Jaranwala and Sargodha and supporting projects like the documentary Faith Under Fire on Christian persecution in Pakistan. She aims to extend IRF efforts to South Asian nations such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The award ceremony, held on May 21, 2025, at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., gathered global faith leaders, including Pastor Paula White, advisor to former President Trump. Ali received her award from Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice.
In her acceptance speech, Ali reflected on her Pakistani-American identity and the Sufi legacy of the Indus Valley, calling for a revival of the inclusive spirit represented by Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Baba Farid, Khawaja Moinuddin, and Guru Nanak. She emphasized global solidarity, noting, “No one — anywhere — should feel unsafe while worshipping God.”
Ali concluded by highlighting the IRF platform’s mission: “We are nurturing resilient leaders who will speak louder, stand firmer, and fight harder to protect every human being’s God-given right to believe freely.”
