Who We Are — Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network

Meet the Staff + Board

Executive Director
Maliha Zafar is a lifelong Hoosier and advocate. After growing up and witnessing the injustices of the US immigration system, she found her passion in advocating for others. Maliha attended Indiana University after receiving the Blair Wheat Memorial Scholarship. While at IU, Maliha double majored in International Studies and History. She started her professional advocacy journey while working at Women4Change Indiana on redistricting reform and women’s health issues. Maliha then went on to work as the Regional Organizing Director for Central Indiana with the Indiana Democratic State Party. Now as the Executive Director for Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network and IMAN Advocates, Maliha looks forward to blending her background in politics and advocacy while working with the Hoosier Muslim community who helped shape her into the advocate she is today.
Community Engagement Coordinator
Yaqoub Saadeh graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) with a bachelors degree in psychology. He also received a certificate for child abuse and neglect through the school of social work and studied Arabic and Islamic studies. He currently serves as the political advocacy chair for the Anti-Arab Discrimination Committee (ADC) chapter in Indiana.
Yaqoub grew up near the Al-Huda Mosque in Fishers, IN and was very involved in community service there from a young age. Growing up so far away from home and relatives, he understood the importance of volunteering his time to build up his local community. His involvement in community service continued throughout his college years after receiving a service based leadership scholarship. In 2024, he was awarded the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion for his dedication and service to the community.
During his undergraduate years, Yaqoub was passionate about social justice and advocating for the human rights of all oppressed people. Eventually, he hopes to counsel victims of war-related PTSD and help them find safe communities where they can re-acclimate to society. He served on the executive board of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at IUI for two years and focused on representing the Muslim student body while also making campus more inclusive for them. He was also the president and one of the founders of the Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA). As a student leader, he was adamant on ensuring that academic freedom and freedom of speech were upheld at all times. During the last legislative session, Yaqoub testified against HB 1002, which infringed on the freedom of speech of student activists. This led him to educate himself more on the importance of political advocacy and the role he plays in representing his community. He believes an organization like IMAN is essential to bridging the gap between the mosque and the statehouse.

President
Sara Hindi is an American of Palestinian-Jordanian descent. She was born in Amman, Jordan, and lived in Central Indiana for about 21 years. She is currently the Chief Communications Officer for the Indianapolis City-County Council. Previously, she was a legislative intern with a local lobbying firm and had served the refugee community in Indianapolis for 7 years at Exodus Refugee Immigration. Hindi holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Affairs from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis. She is actively involved with Women4Change and the ACLU of Indiana. Recognized with the 30 Under 30 by Arab America, the Elite 50 award, the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion, and IndyHub's 2024 Person of the Year. Sara is also an alumna of Hoosier Women Forward and IndyHub’s 1828 Leadership Project.
Vice President & Treasurer
A native of Karachi, Pakistan, Azher Khan is the Founder and Chairman of Calderon Textiles, Inc. in Indianapolis, a leading company that supplies textiles globally.
Azher moved to the United States in 1972. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Mankato in Minnesota in 1975 and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC in 1979. He became a U.S. citizen in 1985.
Calderon Textiles, Inc. was formed in 1983. The company began in Azher's garage with little capital and a great vision. He is credited with importing and delivering high-quality, competitively priced textiles to the U.S. market when purchasing domestic products was the norm for his customers. Over the past four decades, Azher has developed extraordinarily strong relationships with textile manufacturers overseas, thereby establishing a large, reliable network of suppliers for the company. Calderon currently imports products from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China. His meritorious services to the textile industry were recently recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Association for Healthcare Textile Management (IAHTM).
Azher has strived to be engaged in communities he credits his success to throughout his life. He served on the steering committee to re-elect Governor Mitch Daniels in 2008. He is currently President of the Pakistani-American Friendship Association. While in Pakistan in March of 2011, Azher met with U.S. Congressman Rob Whitman (VA) about bi-lateral relations and how U.S. aid should be spent in Pakistan. In 1995, Azher was presented with the key to the City of Carmel for leading the Pakistani community's outreach efforts. Most recently, Azher has founded Re-Center Indiana; a non-profit organization that aims to catalyze a non-partisan movement to preserve and strengthen empathy, democracy, and the constitutional process in America.
Azher believes that human beings are obligated to make this world a better place and that all of one’s efforts should be directed ultimately toward this goal. Azher therefore lives his life accordingly and takes advantage of opportunities to help others in need. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that ravaged the northern areas of Pakistan in 2005, he became one of the leaders of a relief effort that coordinated the loading and exporting of more than twenty ocean containers filled with medical and relief supply donations. Even after one year had passed after the tragedy, Azher’s efforts toward this cause continued. He is also the founder of Seeds of Learning (SOL), a non-profit organization that has built and funds a number of schools in the under-privileged areas of Pakistan. SOL also runs programs with Indianapolis Public Schools to impart wholesome education.
Azher and his wife, Pinky, reside in Carmel, Indiana, and recently celebrated their 42th wedding anniversary. They have three children. Their oldest daughter, Rima, is the CEO of a non-profit organization. Ammar, their son, is a graduate of the School of Business at Indiana University and Calderon's CEO. Their youngest daughter, Soha, is a Doctor at IU hospitals. Azher is a proud grandfather of six grandchildren.
Secretary
Ali Saeed is a local Indiana based attorney and a long time resident of Indiana. Ali is deeply engaged in the local Indiana Community and frequently volunteers his professional and personal time for various causes. He is the President and founding member of Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network and IMAN Advocates. Ali has or continues to serve as a board member or in a leadership role in a number of other non-profit organizations including National Association of Consumer Advocates, Seeds of Learning, Muslim Alliance of Indiana, New Citizens Project and Heartland Pro-bono Project. In 2016, Ali was a recipient of the Access to Justice Award for his efforts and contributions in the non-for-profit world and promoting social justice. In 2021, Ali was awarded the Trailblazer award for his contributions as a civic leader by the Kennedy King Memorial Initiative.
Ali is an Indiana University School of Law Graduate with a background in Mechanical Engineering. Ali is the founding partner at Saeed & Little, LLP a local law-firm with extensive experience in consumer and civil rights advocacy. Ali is the managing partner at his firm for the Class Action, Corporate Law and Estate Planning practice groups. Ali has received multiple awards in recognition of his work as an attorney including being recognized as a Super Lawyer each year between 2016-2023 by his peers.

Aysha Ahmed is the Finance Director for André Carson for Congress in Indianapolis. Aysha has spent the past 8 years on the development of Muslim political power, particularly through her work with Emgage, where she helped scale the institution from a $750,000 to $3.6 million operating budget, new chapters, and programs such as the Million Muslim Votes Program and the 2020 Muslim Voter Impact, a first of its kind Muslim voter data analysis. Aysha graduated from Indiana University in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in international relations. Drawing from inspiration most notably from her Islamic faith and her family, particularly her Father, Shakeel Ahmed, and Grandmother, Inayat Rashid, Aysha is driven by a profound sense of purpose—to make a positive impact, to inspire change, and to leave the world a little better than she found it.
Hiba Alalami is a nonprofit professional who believes in making a difference in people’s lives. She holds a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management from O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and has more than a decade’s experience in the nonprofit sector. She worked with Muslim nonprofits in different capacities, with the latest being the inaugural executive director of the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network. She is currently the Research and Development Director at the League of Women Voters of Indiana. She is also a Ph.D. student in the American Studies program at IU School of Liberal Arts.
Hiba dedicates her time to support the Central Indiana community. She is actively involved in various roles, including serving on the board of directors for the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana and acting as the Treasurer for the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance.
Experienced and passionate self-starter experienced in operations and business development in the health care industry. Integrating specialty care in LTACH, SNF, and AL facilities in order to drastically increase patient outcomes and facility efficiency. Skilled in Healthcare Consulting, Customer Service, Relationship Development/Management, Networking, Strategic Planning, and Business Development and Management.

Kashif Khan serves as the President of Infrastructure Engineering, Inc. (IEI), a diverse and experienced civil engineering firm with more than 160 talented professionals spread across seven offices in six states. IEI provides design, program management and inspection services for a diverse range of services including transportation, site design, water management, mass transit, and airports. With more than 25 years of A/E industry experience, where more than half of it in executive management, Mr. Khan understands the dynamic organizational structure and strategies required of progressive engineering firms to meet today’s complex infrastructure delivery needs. His broad exposure to various facets of organizations allows him to cultivate integrated and sophisticated solutions which blend multiple, and potentially conflicting, interests in harmony.
Mr. Khan is a strong believer in community service, which is rooted in the belief and spirit of giving back to the community one is part of. He has served as a member of the Town of Avon Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. He has also served on the Diversity Committee for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana (ACEC Indiana) from 2006 to 2011 where he also served as the Committee Chair from 2009-2010. In addition, he has also served as a Board Member for the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana from 2011-2012.
Associate Vice President, Portfolio Strategy and Novel Therapeutic Platforms, Diabetes Obesity and Complications, Lilly Research Laboratories. Eyas is a seasoned drug discovery and development researcher, strategist, and innovator. Since he joined Eli Lilly and Company in 2001, supporting late preclinical and early clinical development of novel medicines. He assumed roles including contributing scientist, decision scientist, functional leader, development team chief operating officer and team leader, as well as portfolio strategist. He contributed to the development of over 50 novel medicine programs.
Eyas supports multiple non-profit efforts that contribute to a harmonious and inclusive society. He serves on the board of ReCenter Indiana and the Indianapolis Muslim Community Association, and contributes to various interfaith and diversity-focused efforts.
A native of Jordan, Eyas holds a BS in Pharmacy (University of Jordan; 1997), and a PhD in Pharmaceutics (University of Georgia; 2001). Eyas also completed an MBA from MIT-Sloan School of Management in 2013.

Mehnaz Qureshi has led the company, Indy Tax Service, located in Indianapolis, IN, for two decades, and has become an example for how businesses can impact the community around them. From the very beginning, the company has primarily helped foreign nationals with their US income filing requirements and reporting obligations. This unique client-base speaks to the company’s unique story, as a woman-owned, minority-owned business. Many immigrant families lack access to sound tax advice that speaks to their level of financial literacy and background. The company has become a breeding ground for amazing talent, where Mehnaz has been a resource to both employees and students that come from diverse backgrounds. The nature of her work allows her to serve local nonprofits with their reporting and decision-making.
Outside of being a tax professional, Mehnaz finds time to travel, go hiking, and expand her cultural awareness. She enjoys spending time with her children, and balances her role as a spouse and mother with her role as a small business owner. Through Al Salam Foundation and her participation in local events, she has supported the growing Indianapolis Muslim community as a believer and as an advocate for others.
Ahmad Rami Saltagi has been a resident of Indiana since 2005 and currently lives in Carmel. He and his wife have seven children. He is at a pulmonary/critical care physician. Ahmad has served on the board for many non-profit organizations.
As CFO and Managing Director at Colliers, Saimir Qalliu manages the financials and day-to-day operations of the firm - including oversight of the office systems, accounting, human resources, and IT functions. Saimir was instrumental in the development, integration and launch of the firm’s industry-tailored CRM and project management platform; proprietary market research databases; and continues to manage ongoing training and enhancements of these vital corporate tools. He is also a key conduit between the brokerage, property management and project management initiatives, bridging existing business processes, platforms and best practices developed within our organization and industry.
Previously, Saimir served as Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations/ Prior to joining the firm, he was Project Manager for Central Parking Corporation. As Project Manager, Saimir managed revenue and expense accounting functions in addition to oversight of vendor relations.
Saimir is an active member of the Indianapolis Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) where he has served as Co-Chair of the BOMA Emerging Leaders group, an initiative to increase the organization’s membership of its younger, emerging industry leaders. Saimir also serves on numerous boards and volunteers in active community groups, including serving on the Board of Directors of IMAN Advocates, Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network, UMOJA Partnership, and AlHuda Foundation. As an active member of the Greater Indianapolis community, Saimir is also invested as a volunteer in various organizations including, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, St. Mary’s Child Center, and Wheeler Mission.