Ani Zonneveld

President and Founder of Muslims for Progressive Values

Ani Zonneveld is a writer, singer/songwriter, founder and President of Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), an international human rights organization that advocates for social justice and equality for all, a strong supporter of freedom of expression and of conscience, women’s rights and as an ally, LGBTQ rights. Ani promotes these values at the United Nations by challenging human rights abuses in the name of Islam, and by offering an inclusive understanding based on universal human rights and justice. Since its inception, Ani has presided over MPV’s expansion to include chapters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York, Boston, Columbus and Chicago, and the founder of Alliance Of Inclusive Muslims, the first Muslim human rights umbrella organization made of members spanning six continents.

Ani is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; on the U.N. Inter-agency’s Faith Advisory Council, and was commissioned by the U.N. Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect to create an anti-hate speech workshop for Muslim communities. In 2023 she was selected as an “inspirational woman” in the LA Times. She has organized numerous interfaith arts and music festivals, is the co-editor of MPV’s first book, an anthology titled “Progressive Muslim Identities – Personal Stories from the U.S. and Canada”; executive producer of a video series “LGBTQI Rights in Islam”; has contributed to many forewords and anthologies, and was a contributor for HuffingtonPost, OpenDemocracy and al-Jazeera. She has a TEDx talk titled – Islam: As American As Apple Pie, and is the subject of a documentary title "al-imam" featuring Ani's activism works screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019.

As a Grammy certified award winning songwriter, she utilizes the power of music and the arts in countering radicalism as she speaks-sings her message of social justice and peace from a progressive Muslim woman’s perspective, and is the first woman to release an English Islamic pop album in the U.S. in 2004. She continues to create spiritual worship songs for the purpose of creating a new culture for Western born Muslims. Recently, Ani co-authored and co-designed an “Inclusive Islam Curriculum Rooted in Human Rights” for children ages 4-7.

Born in Malaysia, Ani, a Muslim since birth, spent a good portion of her formative years raised in Germany, Egypt and India as an Ambassador’s daughter. Her exposure to different politics, religions and cultures has shaped her inclusive worldview.

BOOK CHAPTERS

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Chapter Contribution: “Part II: Music in Pursuit of Human Rights - Voice” in The Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights Edited by Julian Fifer, Angela Impey, Peter G. Kirchschlaeger, Manfred Nowak and George Ulrich | May 31, 2022

2021: Co-authored with Duderija A., Zonneveld A.O. "Transnational Progressive Islam: Theory, Networks, and Lived Experience" In: Lukens-Bull R., Woodward M. (eds) Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32626-5_100

2015 Contributor, “For Muslims – a 9-11 Wake-up Call”, Author: Barbara Falconer Newhall, Wrestling With God: Stories of Doubt and Faith, pp. 190-203, Patheos Press, 2015.

2013 Contributor,“Expatriate Blues”, Anthology: Critical Muslim 07:Muslim Archipelago, pp.149-158, Oxford University Press.

2012 Contributor,“Islam and America, Better Than Ever”, Anthology: American Dreamers–Optimists, Mavericks, and Mad Inventors Share Their Dreams for Brighter Futures; pp. 241-247, Sharp/Stuff, 2014.

2011 Editor and contributor, Anthology:"Progressive Muslim Identities"answers the often-asked question "Where are the progressive Muslims?" Here, gay, straight, black, white and brown Muslims from the United States and Canada narrate their personal stories. Their powerful voices highlight human dignity, freedom to choose how one lives out one's faith, and the inner strength it takes to do so.

ALBUMS

Solo project; creator of a new musical genre; “Islamic Hymns: Celebration of Life”; 2012

Solo project; an interfaith concept; “One”; Interfaith songs, collaborators include Redbear, Rev. Noriaki Ito, Kominas and Rabbi Naomi Levi, 2005

Solo project; first female Islamic pop English singer in the U.S.; “Ummah Wake Up”; 2003

DOCUMENTARIES

2016 Al Imam, Documentary Short: Despite controversy and threats, Muslim singer/songwriter turned spiritual leader Ani Zonneveld takes a stand for justice through activism and a progressive practice of Islam. Oscar Awards qualifying screenings: Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival as part of the "Path of Most Resistance"; Big Sky Documentary Film Festival; Cleveland International Film Festival; First Look Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival; and in 2019 a screening at the Cannes Film Festival. You can watch the trailer here.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Pen Name: Zuriani

GRAMMY

2004 - Certification for song contribution “One Friend” Keb’ Mo’ ‘Keep It Simple’ (album)
2001 - Certification for song contribution “I’m Your Mother Too” Keb’ Mo’ ‘Big Wide Grin’ (album)

AIM (MALAYSIAN EQUIVALENT OF THE GRAMMY); SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER

2004 | Best Pop Album | Siti Nurhaliza (artist) | ‘Emas’ (album title)
2004 | Album of the Year | Siti Nurhaliza (artist) | ‘Emas’ (album title)
1999 | Best Pop Album | Siti Nurhaliza (artist) | ‘Adiwarna’ (album title)
199 | Album of the Year | Siti Nurhaliza (artist) | ‘Adiwarna’ (album title)