With major figures like Bill Maher implying Islam is an inherently violent faith, some might be surprised over the number of humanitarians that might prove otherwise.
In fact the past decade has shown several Muslims who have received international acclaim for their work. Of the past 12 individuals who won the Nobel Peace Prize, four of them were Muslim.
Their work ranged from advocating for women's rights, to press freedom, to economic reform that would give people living in poverty options. Here are their profiles:
Malala Yousafzai, 2014: Now 18 years old, Yousafzai became the youngest to win a Nobel Prize last year. The Pakistani was shot by the Taliban for advocating for women's rights to an education, sparking international outrage and support for her quick recovery.
Tawakkol Karman, 2011: Often known as the "Mother of the Revolution" in Yemen for her role in the Arab Spring, the 36-year-old journalist became a symbol for women's press freedom. She was the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Muhammad Yunus, 2006: The 75-year-old Bangladeshi is a pioneer for microfinance and founded the Grameen Bank, a company that lets the poorest in Bangladesh borrow money without collateral. Yunus advocates for credit as a human right, arguing for providing people with a way to emerge out of poverty by teaching them basic financial principles.
Mohamed el-Baradei, 2005: As former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the 73-year-old Egyptian earned the prize for preventing efforts to use nuclear energy for military purposes. El-Baradei once served as Egypt's vice president but resigned one month after he earned the post.
By Hayat Norimine
