Who We Are
The Peaceful Families Project (PFP) is an initiative devoted to ending domestic violence in Muslim families by facilitating awareness workshops for Muslim leaders and communities, providing cultural sensitivity trainings and technical assistance for professionals, conducting research, and developing resources. PFP was founded by Sharifa Alkhateeb (1946-2000) in the year 2000. As a pioneer of Muslim anti-domestic violence advocacy, Sharifa worked tirelessly on behalf of Muslim victims and collaborated with Muslim leaders, communities, and activists across the U.S. as she provided workshops to raise awareness levels.
In an effort to affect change in all areas impacting victims and survivors of domestic violence, our programming includes prevention and intervention in its approach to community education and development, training and technical assistance, and research. We encourage a holistic approach to addressing domestic violence among Muslim families and communities through collaboration with imams, community leaders, community members, social service professionals, activists, educators, legal providers, and youth leaders.
Our Staff and Board of Directors are visionary community leaders who are dedicated to the mission of ending domestic violence through prevention work. Through their talent and expertise, the Peaceful Families Project is able to execute its mission and vision to promote attitudes and beliefs that emphasize justice, freedom from oppression, and family harmony.
In an effort to affect change in all areas impacting victims and survivors of domestic violence, our programming includes prevention and intervention in its approach to community education and development, training and technical assistance, and research. We encourage a holistic approach to addressing domestic violence among Muslim families and communities through collaboration with imams, community leaders, community members, social service professionals, activists, educators, legal providers, and youth leaders.
Our Staff and Board of Directors are visionary community leaders who are dedicated to the mission of ending domestic violence through prevention work. Through their talent and expertise, the Peaceful Families Project is able to execute its mission and vision to promote attitudes and beliefs that emphasize justice, freedom from oppression, and family harmony.
Executive Director
Sumaya Al-Hajebi
Executive Director
Peaceful Families Project
Great Falls, VA
Sumaya attended George Mason University, where she obtained a BA in Sociology in 2011 (Magna Cum Laude) and contributed content to the text-reader "The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex & Gender, Social Class, Sexual Orientation, and Disability". Before graduating, Sumaya co-founded the first Muslim student-based relief organization United Muslims Relief, formerly known as Muslims Without Borders, where she became passionate about nonprofit work leading programs both on a national and international level. Sumaya’s passion was to work domestically on issues that were relevant to both American Muslims and the community at large.
While in graduate school, and throughout her career, Sumaya has continued to foster her interest and dedicate her time in the fields of Education and Nonprofit Development. With over ten years of experience in Nonprofit management, she is currently the Executive Director of the Peaceful Families Project, and serves as a volunteer for several nonprofit organizations. Sumaya enjoys being civilly engaged in the community and is part of several organization that help bring communities of all types of social and religious backgrounds together. Her personal interests include travel, youth mentorship, community gardening, outreach, and nearly all ice-cream related activities.
Executive Director
Peaceful Families Project
Great Falls, VA
Sumaya attended George Mason University, where she obtained a BA in Sociology in 2011 (Magna Cum Laude) and contributed content to the text-reader "The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex & Gender, Social Class, Sexual Orientation, and Disability". Before graduating, Sumaya co-founded the first Muslim student-based relief organization United Muslims Relief, formerly known as Muslims Without Borders, where she became passionate about nonprofit work leading programs both on a national and international level. Sumaya’s passion was to work domestically on issues that were relevant to both American Muslims and the community at large.
While in graduate school, and throughout her career, Sumaya has continued to foster her interest and dedicate her time in the fields of Education and Nonprofit Development. With over ten years of experience in Nonprofit management, she is currently the Executive Director of the Peaceful Families Project, and serves as a volunteer for several nonprofit organizations. Sumaya enjoys being civilly engaged in the community and is part of several organization that help bring communities of all types of social and religious backgrounds together. Her personal interests include travel, youth mentorship, community gardening, outreach, and nearly all ice-cream related activities.
Board of Directors
President: Saba Ghori
Associate Director
Women for Women International
Washington, DC
Saba Ghori joined Women for Women International as Associate Director for Social Empowerment in 2017 with more than 14 years of experience in foreign affairs at the U.S. Department of State as a gender specialist, including postings internationally and based in Washington, D.C. Most recently, she served as Gender Advisor for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, based in Islamabad. There, she worked directly with the Government of Pakistan to improve infrastructure of police stations and training institutes to accommodate women, trained Pakistani police on laws related to domestic violence and honor- killings, advocated for greater funding and attention towards women’s shelters, and funded local organizations and UN agencies to provide access to justice to women survivors of gender based violence.
Saba also worked as Senior South Asia Specialist and Violence Against Women Advisor for the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues under the first Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and Secretary Hillary Clinton, where she advocated for human rights and women’s rights globally. During her tenure, she successfully raised funds from leading corporations including Avon and Goldman Sachs and other Department of State offices to support public private partnerships. As a result of Saba’s advocacy efforts, Saba received the highest award given to a State Department employee for promoting women’s rights called the “Swanee Hunt Award for Advancing Women’s Role in Policy Formulation.”
Saba has dedicated her life to ending all forms of violence against women and girls. Her passion for this work started when she was in high school and has become the corner stone of her career. Saba has invested her time in numerous anti-domestic violence organizations such as the Arkansas Shelter for Battered Women, Saheli, the Asian Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, ASHA, and Peaceful Families Project.
Associate Director
Women for Women International
Washington, DC
Saba Ghori joined Women for Women International as Associate Director for Social Empowerment in 2017 with more than 14 years of experience in foreign affairs at the U.S. Department of State as a gender specialist, including postings internationally and based in Washington, D.C. Most recently, she served as Gender Advisor for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, based in Islamabad. There, she worked directly with the Government of Pakistan to improve infrastructure of police stations and training institutes to accommodate women, trained Pakistani police on laws related to domestic violence and honor- killings, advocated for greater funding and attention towards women’s shelters, and funded local organizations and UN agencies to provide access to justice to women survivors of gender based violence.
Saba also worked as Senior South Asia Specialist and Violence Against Women Advisor for the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues under the first Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and Secretary Hillary Clinton, where she advocated for human rights and women’s rights globally. During her tenure, she successfully raised funds from leading corporations including Avon and Goldman Sachs and other Department of State offices to support public private partnerships. As a result of Saba’s advocacy efforts, Saba received the highest award given to a State Department employee for promoting women’s rights called the “Swanee Hunt Award for Advancing Women’s Role in Policy Formulation.”
Saba has dedicated her life to ending all forms of violence against women and girls. Her passion for this work started when she was in high school and has become the corner stone of her career. Saba has invested her time in numerous anti-domestic violence organizations such as the Arkansas Shelter for Battered Women, Saheli, the Asian Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, ASHA, and Peaceful Families Project.
Vice President: Komal Rasheed
Director & Adviser
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Washington, DC
Komal is a dedicated career public servant. She currently serves as an adviser & director at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), leading a team of analysts centered on driving efficiency within the federal government. Under the Obama Administration, Komal was on a small team of experts responsible for the Top to Bottom (T2B) reviews of the entire agency. The T2B redirect taxpayer dollars towards critical mission needs by improving efficiency in process, spend & resources. This lead to an annual savings of $31 million. Komal was a contributor to President Obama’s second term Presidential Management Agenda (PMA), working on proposals for an effective & efficient government with her inter-agency cohorts as representative of GSA. In 2015, Komal was asked to come to the U.S. Department of State for a year to advise on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) strategies & public diplomacy efforts in South & Central Asia. During her time there, Komal worked within the agency and her fellow international counterparts on preparations for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA); supported Secretary Kerry’s historic trip with all five Central Asian countries; evaluated educational, public diplomacy, CVE, & democracy, human rights & labor programming; worked with civil society on their program’s long-term sustainability strategy; & served as the Deputy Director of the Community Engagement Office at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad among other contributions. Originally from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Komal moved to the United States as child. She joined the federal government as a civil servant after 9/11 as a means to serve her country.
Director & Adviser
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Washington, DC
Komal is a dedicated career public servant. She currently serves as an adviser & director at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), leading a team of analysts centered on driving efficiency within the federal government. Under the Obama Administration, Komal was on a small team of experts responsible for the Top to Bottom (T2B) reviews of the entire agency. The T2B redirect taxpayer dollars towards critical mission needs by improving efficiency in process, spend & resources. This lead to an annual savings of $31 million. Komal was a contributor to President Obama’s second term Presidential Management Agenda (PMA), working on proposals for an effective & efficient government with her inter-agency cohorts as representative of GSA. In 2015, Komal was asked to come to the U.S. Department of State for a year to advise on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) strategies & public diplomacy efforts in South & Central Asia. During her time there, Komal worked within the agency and her fellow international counterparts on preparations for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA); supported Secretary Kerry’s historic trip with all five Central Asian countries; evaluated educational, public diplomacy, CVE, & democracy, human rights & labor programming; worked with civil society on their program’s long-term sustainability strategy; & served as the Deputy Director of the Community Engagement Office at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad among other contributions. Originally from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Komal moved to the United States as child. She joined the federal government as a civil servant after 9/11 as a means to serve her country.
Secretary: Sana Pasha
Project Manager
Qurtuba Institue
Sterling, VA
Sana Pasha has been an active volunteer and community organizer with the ADAMS Center in Northern Virginia for over 20 years. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from George Mason University before joining private industry as an Information Technology Consultant at Williams & Connelly, LLC, one of the most prestigious law firms in the Washington, DC area. Professionally, she also worked as a Configuration Management Consultant for the US Government through the firm, Booz Allen Hamilton. As a volunteer, Sana has organized Interfaith, Community Outreach and Civic engagements for the local Muslim community. She has also counseled countless youth and young couples through a variety of personal and professional issues and has served as a mentor to young adults in Northern Virginia. She assisted as an editor for the book, Before You Tie the Knot, written by Imam Mohamed Magid & Salma Abugideiri.
Sana currently resides in Sterling, VA with her husband and four children. She serves as a Program Manager for the Qurtuba Institute for Islamic Education at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Sterling.
Project Manager
Qurtuba Institue
Sterling, VA
Sana Pasha has been an active volunteer and community organizer with the ADAMS Center in Northern Virginia for over 20 years. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from George Mason University before joining private industry as an Information Technology Consultant at Williams & Connelly, LLC, one of the most prestigious law firms in the Washington, DC area. Professionally, she also worked as a Configuration Management Consultant for the US Government through the firm, Booz Allen Hamilton. As a volunteer, Sana has organized Interfaith, Community Outreach and Civic engagements for the local Muslim community. She has also counseled countless youth and young couples through a variety of personal and professional issues and has served as a mentor to young adults in Northern Virginia. She assisted as an editor for the book, Before You Tie the Knot, written by Imam Mohamed Magid & Salma Abugideiri.
Sana currently resides in Sterling, VA with her husband and four children. She serves as a Program Manager for the Qurtuba Institute for Islamic Education at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Sterling.
Treasurer: Lina Hashem
AnaVation, LLC
IT Consultant
Washington, DC
Lina Hashem is a native to Northern Virginia and has worked with several organizations over the years to help facilitate and organize opportunities for others to learn and support social and humanitarian causes through organizations such as the Muslim Students Association, Islamic Relief, Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help's (FAITH) ‘Herndon without Hunger’ program, and the ‘United Against Malaria’ campaign. She has worked with the Deen Intensive's Rihla program to organize academic and spiritual trips in the US, Spain, and Turkey where students studied and learned from scholars on various topics including the social sciences of Islam.
Lina has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry as an IT consultant and has worked in the DC metro area for business and management consulting firms. Her experience was nationally recognized through the Women of Color STEM award. She served as VP of MSA National and chaired the advisory board which connected her to students across the US and Canada where she organized and promoted student leading programs in activism, leadership, spiritual guidance, and helped organize regional and national conferences. Her passion in connecting people and resources led her to form her own company, Lina Hashem PR. Her first client was Zarqa Nawaz, creator of the Canadian hit sitcom, ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’. Through Lina Hashem PR, Lina has represented authors, social media personalities, and organized speaking tours and events.
AnaVation, LLC
IT Consultant
Washington, DC
Lina Hashem is a native to Northern Virginia and has worked with several organizations over the years to help facilitate and organize opportunities for others to learn and support social and humanitarian causes through organizations such as the Muslim Students Association, Islamic Relief, Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help's (FAITH) ‘Herndon without Hunger’ program, and the ‘United Against Malaria’ campaign. She has worked with the Deen Intensive's Rihla program to organize academic and spiritual trips in the US, Spain, and Turkey where students studied and learned from scholars on various topics including the social sciences of Islam.
Lina has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry as an IT consultant and has worked in the DC metro area for business and management consulting firms. Her experience was nationally recognized through the Women of Color STEM award. She served as VP of MSA National and chaired the advisory board which connected her to students across the US and Canada where she organized and promoted student leading programs in activism, leadership, spiritual guidance, and helped organize regional and national conferences. Her passion in connecting people and resources led her to form her own company, Lina Hashem PR. Her first client was Zarqa Nawaz, creator of the Canadian hit sitcom, ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’. Through Lina Hashem PR, Lina has represented authors, social media personalities, and organized speaking tours and events.
Project Manager & Outreach: Irfana Anwer
Pakistan Team leader
The Institute for Inclusive Security
Washington, DC
Irfana Anwer was recently the Pakistan Program Associate at Inclusive Security, where she increased the capacity of women leaders to enhance peace and security so that they can take an active part in countering violent extremism in their country. Previously, Irfana was Director of the Language Access program at Ayuda, a legal services organization in Washington, DC. She also represented women in matters of humanitarian-based immigration law. Prior to her position at Ayuda, Irfana was Director of the Family Law Division, at Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, an international human rights organization in Washington, DC. Irfana has worked for over 10 years on issues of interfaith dialogue, violence and gender in Muslim communities.
Pakistan Team leader
The Institute for Inclusive Security
Washington, DC
Irfana Anwer was recently the Pakistan Program Associate at Inclusive Security, where she increased the capacity of women leaders to enhance peace and security so that they can take an active part in countering violent extremism in their country. Previously, Irfana was Director of the Language Access program at Ayuda, a legal services organization in Washington, DC. She also represented women in matters of humanitarian-based immigration law. Prior to her position at Ayuda, Irfana was Director of the Family Law Division, at Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, an international human rights organization in Washington, DC. Irfana has worked for over 10 years on issues of interfaith dialogue, violence and gender in Muslim communities.
Advisory Board
Advisory Board: Mona Malik
Mona Malik served as the President of Peaceful Families Project (PFP) from 2010-2017. As a social worker with over 15 years of experience, she has worked with abused children, recent immigrants, youth and victims of domestic violence. She is a Founding Member of Muslim Mothers Against Violence (MMAV). MMAV educates communities about bullying and teaches nonviolent conflict resolution skills to Muslim teenagers. Ms. Malik serves on the Virginia State Board of Social Services. She serves as a Commissioner for the County Office of Human Rights in Fairfax County, VA. She serves as a Board Member for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ms. Malik serves as a Board member for the Duke Islamic Studies Center. Ms. Malik received her M.A. and B.A. degrees in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children.
Advisory Board & Director of Training: Salma Abugideiri
Licensed Profesional Counselor
McLean, VA
Salma Elkadi Abugideiri is a founding board member of PFP, currently serving on the Advisory Board and as the primary trainer for PFP programs. She provides workshops and training for community leaders, imams, faith communities, domestic violence service providers and mental health professionals on Healthy Relationship Dynamics, Muslim Mental Health and Domestic Violence Prevention. She has presented at national and international conferences on these topics. Among her numerous publications in the fields of domestic violence and mental health, she authored the facilitator guide for the training program Garments for One Another: Ending Domestic Violence in Muslim Families, and the chapter entitled Domestic Violence in Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues & Interventions. She has co-authored What Islam Says About Domestic Violence: A Guide for Helping Muslim Families, and Before You Tie the Knot: A Guide for Couples. Salma is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice, specializing in couples counseling and the treatment of trauma. Her passions include the prevention of relationship and mental health issues, and integrating spirituality into prevention and treatment approaches.