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Dr Aref Ali Nayed is a Libyan public figure, a renowned scholar in the field of Islamic Theology (Kalam) and Philosophy, and a leading pioneer of inter-faith relations. He was former Ambassador of Libya to the United Arab Emirates, former Special Envoy of the President of the Libya House of Representatives to USA, UK, European and African Unions, and led the Libya Stabilisation Team in 2011—and has since played a vital and positive role in the revitalisation of the Libyan political track.
Birth: 1 January 1962 (Age: 61)
Source of Influence: Scholarly
Influence: Scholarly, Political. Influential figure in Libyan government.
School of Thought: Sunni
Status: Featured in current year
Influence
Dr Aref Ali Nayed is a Libyan public figure, a renowned scholar in the field of Islamic Theology (Kalam) and Philosophy, and a leading pioneer of inter-faith relations. He was former Ambassador of Libya to the United Arab Emirates, former Special Envoy of the President of the Libya House of Representatives to USA, UK, European and African Unions, and led the Libya Stabilisation Team in 2011—and has since played a vital and positive role in the revitalisation of the Libyan political track.
Scholar: Nayed is the Founder and Chairman of two leading think tanks, Kalam Research and Media (KRM) and the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies (LIAS). He is also currently a Visiting Senior Research Affiliate of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. He was former professor at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (Rome), and a former professor at the International Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC, Malaysia). Prior to the Libyan revolution he lectured on Islamic Theology, Logic, and Spirituality at the restored Uthman Pasha Madrasa in Tripoli, Libya, and supervised graduate students at the Islamic Call College in the country.
Political Leader: Nayed is viewed in many circles as a man of integrity, wisdom, strength and diplomatic foresight—virtues that are needed at the highest level to put Libya back on track. In 2017, Nayed launched a new movement for change in Libya named “Ihya Libya” (Reviving Libya) which centres around a comprehensive vision for Libya, and managed to galvanise various social fabric and civil society groups into a political consortium. Ihya Libya aims to create a stable, prosperous and democratic country. Dr Nayed is one of the leading figures in the Libyan diplomatic, civic and political landscapes and is a leading Presidential candidate in the coming elections in Libya.