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Soraya M. Deen

Peacemaker, Motivational Speaker

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Aug 2, 2026, 5:09 AM

Political Supportability: The Arab World’s Missing Responsibility for Peace

By Soraya M. Deen The Middle East does not lack peace plans. It lacks political supportability. For decades, diplomats have negotiated ceasefires, peace initiatives, normalization agreements, and roadmaps. Yet too often these efforts have failed to achieve their full promise because...

Jul 7, 2026, 10:19 AM

Palestinian Anti-Normalization Makes Peace Impossible for Those Who Yearn for Peace

The podcast - Conversations at the PeaceTable- Photo credit Soraya

In the months following October 7, a painful question echoed across Israel, the Palestinian territories, and the diaspora: Were all Palestinians supporters of Hamas, or were there Palestinians who opposed the massacre and longed for a different future? My search...

Jul 3, 2026, 4:39 AM

America at 250: America Made Us Part of Her Story. Have We Made Her Part of Ours?

As America marks 250 years of independence, I am asking a difficult question: America made us part of her story—but have we truly made her part of ours? I came to America 30 years ago with two bags and one...

May 30, 2026, 5:12 PM

Why as a Muslim I Will March in the Israel Day Parade — For Palestinians Too

This week, I will fly across America to march in New York’s Israel Day Parade. For some people, that decision makes no sense. It can be infuriating. Why would a Muslim march in support of Israel at a time when Gaza...

Apr 29, 2026, 12:03 AM

From Sri Lanka to Gaza: What Terror Taught Me About Peace and the Lie of Liberation

In Los Angeles, Soraya pays homage to Lord Buddha - at an event remembering the victims of the Easter Sunday terrorist attack that killed 249 people in Srilanka

I come from Sri Lanka—a country that endured nearly thirty years of brutal conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The LTTE claimed to be a resistance movement, fighting for rights and dignity. But what I witnessed told...

Apr 19, 2026, 11:51 PM

The Fourth Place: From Prayer to Power: A Call to Synagogues

The Fourth Place: From Prayer to Power: The Urgent Case for Community Organizing in Synagogues In a time of rising antisemitism and hatred for Israel, gathering is no longer enough—Jewish communities must organize, mobilize, and act. Antisemitism is no longer...

Apr 11, 2026, 5:19 PM

How Diaspora Activism Failed Palestinians Once Again

When Protest Loses Its Moral Center: How Diaspora Activism Failed the Palestinians once again. America’s most successful movements for justice were not built on rage alone. They were built on discipline, moral clarity—and love. The Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin...

Mar 29, 2026, 4:59 PM

A Call to Nerdeen Kiswani: Speak Peace in Conflict

We begin with a principle that must never be compromised: we unequivocally condemn the attempt on your life. No cause, no grievance, no moment of anger ever justifies violence against another human being—whether in New York, Jerusalem, across from...

Mar 4, 2026, 2:45 PM

A Wake-Up Call from Iran to the Muslim World

Soraya - addressing the gathering on Religious Freedom & the importance of Public Narrative

I write this from a religious freedom conference convened by Empower Women Media, led by Iranian-American advocate Shirin Taber and Lebanese-American leader Astrid Hajjar. The Iranian voices in that room were not whispering — they were warning. After 47...

Feb 27, 2026, 5:46 PM

Modi, South Asia: And the anesthetized ‘Palestinian Cause’

Modi’s Visit to Israel — an appeal to the Global South to rethink the anesthetized “Palestinian Cause.” As a Muslim Sri Lankan American, I write this with conviction and with urgency. When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthens ties with...

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About Me

Soraya M Deen is an award winning Muslim feminist lawyer, interfaith advocate, international activist, community organizer and public speaker. Soraya is also the Co- chair of the Womens Working Group of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable in DC. She is the founder and CEO of the Muslim Women Speakers AND Nigerian Women Lead. The women work in the areas of addressing Religious extremism, #Antisemitism, Hate, Gender Equality & Public Leadership. Soraya is the co- founder of Clarity Coalition & senior member of the Muslim Reform Movement of North America. Soraya has her Public Leadership Credentials from Harvard.

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