Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Director and Academic Advisor, IIIT London Office, has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for June 2009 by being awarded a CBE (Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). The citation in The London Gazette reads as follows: Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh Ali, Academic Advisor, London Office, International Institute of Islamic Thought for Services to Community Relations.

According to Directgov website the “honours are given to people from all walks of life and all sections of society who have made a difference to their community. There are several different types of award, each one recognising a different type of contribution.” It adds that “the British honours system is one of the oldest in the world. It has evolved over 650 years as the country has found alternative means of recognising merit, gallantry and service”.

Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh Ali is currently Chairman of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS UK ) and Chair of the Forum against Islamophobia and Racism (FAIR). Dr. Anas has a PhD in American Studies and has taught Literature and Translation at universities in the Middle East . He is a Trustee of FED 2000 UK (for Education and Development). He is academic advisor to the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Director of its Translation Department. His current research interests: Islam in Western Popular Culture, Islam and the Media, Muslim Education in Europe and Muslim Discourse in Europe. Dr. Anas is Executive Director of Legacy Publishing and on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences.