Our Team

Dr. Osama Abu Irshaid is the Executive Director of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action). He is also the Chairman of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), an umbrella organization of eight major national American Muslim organizations. Abu Irshaid is a renowned Arab and Muslim American activist, writer, and public speaker who focuses on Middle Eastern and American politics. He lectures frequently in local, regional, and international events, and is a regular commentator on various Arabic broadcasters. He authored and co-authored several books in Arabic and published dozens of studies and articles in Arabic and English. Abu Irshaid completed his PhD in Political Science at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

Taher Herzallah is the Associate Director of Outreach & Community Organizing for American Muslims for Palestine. In this capacity, Mr. Herzallah acts as a liaison between campus activism groups on campuses across the country. He helps these groups procure grants, materials and speakers and is also instrumental in helping students set up programs and activities. Mr. Herzallah also coordinates AMP's grassroots organizing and helps facilitate national coalition building . He is also working to develop AMP chapters across the country. 

Mr. Herzallah is one of the 'Irvine 11,' a group of students who were arrested and prosecuted for expressing their constitutionally protected rights of free speech and political dissent when they walked out of a speech given by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren at UC Irvine in 2010. Mr. Herzallah was also one of six people arrested for protesting the appointment of David Friedman as US ambassador to Israel at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in February 2017. Mr. Herzallah has had articles published in various media outlets including the Orange County Register and Al Jazeera English. He has been featured on several media and radio interviews throughout the country and internationally. Mr. Herzallah studied Political Science and International Affairs at UC Riverside.

Zarefah Baroud is the Digital Media Associate with American Muslims for Palestine. She is also currently a PhD candidate at the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Palestine Studies. Baroud received her Master’s degree in Policy Studies from the University of Washington, where she researched American aid programs to the Israeli military. You can find her articles on various online news sources, including AlJazeera, Middle East Monitor, TeleSUR, Mondoweiss, Socialist Worker and others. 

Tarek Khaill is an attorney, lecturer, and activist. He worked with the Illinois Coalition Against Torture (ICAT), an organization which seeks to end domestic police torture and raise awareness of global torture.  He was also a volunteer Attorney with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) , the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. He’s currently a Chicago board member and Education Coordinator for the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). Tarek lectures on topics such as modern Palestinian history, Middle East politics, and Palestinian rights under international law.