2025 Candidate Statements for MuBANY Elections
2025 Candidate Statements for MuBANY Elections!
This year, MuBANY has all Board Director positions up for elections! MuBANY's Board is composed of 5 Directors, who serve one-year terms.
On June 20th, members will receive an email entitled “Vote Now: MuBANY 2025 Board Elections” from an Election Buddy email address which will allow for electronic voting.
Members can vote any time between June 20th to June 27th 11:59pm EST through Election Buddy.
Thank you to all who have submitted candidate statements, and to all of our members who have made MuBANY what it is!
Director Level, 1 year term, 2025-2026
Director: Farheen Moinuddin
My name is Farheen Moinuddin, and as a proud member of the New York City Muslim legal community, I am honored to be considered for the position of Director of the Muslim Bar Association of New York. I graduated with my Juris Doctor in 2021 and I have been a practicing attorney working as in-house counsel for over 3 years. In my role as Senior Counsel, I have
gained invaluable experience in corporate law and have developed my problem-solving strategic thinking, and negotiation skills.
Beyond my professional experience, I am proud to have been involved in various Muslim nonprofit organizations over the years. I had the privilege of working on the administrative team of the Mohammed Webb Foundation and the Executive Board of the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament of Chicago, where I played key roles in administration, fundraising,
logistics and event planning, and community building. These experiences have allowed me to develop a strong foundation in organizational work and collaboration within the Muslim community and are skills that I believe will be beneficial as a Director of MuBANY.
I believe my background in nonprofit work and corporate law uniquely positions me to bring a blend of practical expertise and strategic thinking to this role. My experience working with diverse teams to execute large-scale events and initiatives will help ensure that MuBANY remains an active, engaging, and effective space for its members.
During these uncertain times, it is especially important that we have an inclusive and accessible network. If given the opportunity, I will work hard to continue the remarkable work that MuBANY is doing to represent and advance the needs of the Muslim community. I have a strong affinity for supporting and uplifting my fellow community members, and I would dedicate my work to ensuring that our rights are protected and that our collective voices remain connected, strong, and impactful.
As an active member of MuBANY, I desire to step into a role that allows me to better serve the organization, to support my fellow Muslim legal professionals, and advocate for justice and equal representation for Muslims in America. I am honored to be considered for the role of Director and look forward to taking part in promoting the growth and success of MuBANY.
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Director: Bella Tabassum
My name is Bella, and I am seeking your support for a Director position with MuBANY for the 2024–2025 term. After graduating from CUNY School of Law, I began my career at the NYC Law Department as an Assistant Corporation Counsel, and later served as an Executive Agency Counsel for the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Since 2023, I have been an Assistant Commissioner in the Division of Youth and Family Justice at ACS. Growing up in the Bronx, I became a lawyer because I lacked representation in the spaces I aspired to be. As a lifelong public servant, I believe lawyering is a pursuit of justice.
I have had the privilege of being part of MuBANY for the past two years as a member, mentee, member of the gala committee, part of the Board of Directors and co-chair of the gala committee. Over the last year, I also served as co-chair of the gala committee, helping to plan and execute one of the organization’s most significant community events. In seeking re-election as a Director, I aim to further strengthen the MuBANY community by supporting the mentoring pipeline, coordinating networking events for law students, new attorneys, and seasoned professionals, and advocating for our community. I am committed to uplifting the voice of Muslims in New York City in collaboration with frontline organizations that work tirelessly every day. I hope as a Director in MuBANY we can create a more inclusive and supportive legal community, empowering the next generation of Muslim legal professionals to achieve excellence and advocate for justice.
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Director: Humza Yousuf
My name is Humza Yousuf, and I am a litigation associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught that even if the Last Day were upon us and we held a seed in our hand, we should still plant it. In a world that often chases immediate results and short-term wins, this hadith is a profound reminder of the value of doing work whose fruits we may never live to see. As MuBANY enters its 25th year, we are the beneficiaries of seeds planted by those who came before us, Muslim lawyers who built this community, many of whom whose names we don’t know. Yet, their impact continues to shape our professional lives. I want to join the board to continue the legacy of building and serving a community that will outlast us.
My commitment to advocacy and service includes pro bono work that reflects our shared values. Most recently, I co-authored an amicus brief defending religious land use rights for an NYC Masjid under RLUIPA. That experience highlighted for me the critical role organizations like MuBANY can play in shaping legal discourse through strategic advocacy. MuBANY is uniquely positioned to contribute to amicus work through which it can bring a principled legal perspective to courts on issues that affect our communities and civil rights broadly.
If selected, I hope to focus on deepening MuBANY’s relationships with law firms and institutional partners by strengthening and expanding our sponsorship program. This support is vital as it expands MuBANY’s visibility and influence in the legal profession, this is especially important now more than ever. I bring experience to this work from my time at Georgetown Law,
where I served on the board of the Muslim Law Students Association. In that role, I helped lead outreach to law firms and alumni to support MLSA’s programming, events, and community- building efforts. I saw firsthand how strategic partnerships can empower Muslim legal organizations to grow their presence and deliver lasting impact.
I also aim to create practical, engaging pathways for early-career lawyers to connect with MuBANY, through initiatives like legal writing competitions, mentorship pipelines, and collaborative programs with other affinity bar associations. It would be a privilege to contribute to MuBANY’s next chapter and to build something for people we may never know.
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Director: Nayab Khan
Salam everyone! My name is Nayab Khan and I have been a MuBANY member since my first year of law school in 2021. I am currently a public defender at the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County in the criminal defense practice, and I graduated from Fordham Law School in 2024. Law school can consume one's life, but MuBANY helped me build a community in the legal field outside of law school and introduced me to valuable mentors and friends. I volunteered for the annual Gala throughout law school and this past year. The experience introduced me to the more technical responsibilities of a Director and other board members. I hope to continue being a part of the MuBANY community and building the kind space that I found so valuable as a law student and new lawyer!
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Director: Imad Rafi
I am currently an associate at Barclay Damon LLP, where I focus on health care litigation. I represent providers in complex disputes involving regulatory compliance, audits, investigations, and reimbursement matters.
My connection to MUBANY goes back to my first year at Brooklyn Law School. Since then I have been consistently involved, first as a law school representative and then as a member of the Gala Committee for the past three years, helping plan and set up one of MUBANY’s signature events. I have also regularly attended and volunteered at MUBANY programs and have seen firsthand the impact this organization has on supporting Muslim legal professionals at every stage of their careers.
I am now in a unique position as someone who has recently gone through law school and entered the profession. I understand what students and young attorneys are looking for, what support is most meaningful, and how MUBANY can continue to be that bridge. I would be proud to bring that perspective and my continued commitment to the board and help strengthen the mentorship and community that make MUBANY so valuable.
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Director: Raabia Qasim
I am applying for a Director role because I believe bar associations play a vital role in building community, advancing equity, and shaping the legal profession. I have been involved with bar associations throughout my legal career. Currently, I work as the Associate Policy Counsel at the New York City Bar Association, where I help coordinate the City Bar’s policy work, legislative activity, and advocacy. I work closely with City Bar leadership to develop and issue statements on some of the most pressing legal and social issues---locally, nationally, and internationally.
This year, I had the opportunity to serve on the MuBANY Gala Committee, which provided me with valuable insight into the organization’s strengths as well as some of the challenges it is navigating in the current landscape. Previously, I served as the Vice President of Public Interest for SABANY, organizing programming and events to support South Asian students and
attorneys pursuing public interest careers. I continue to serve on SABANY’s Public Interest Fellowship Selection Committee, which awards grants to students working in unpaid public interest summer internships in New York.
In addition, I am a proud alum of the Council of Urban Professionals Fellowship, a leadership development pipeline for professionals of color, and I remain actively engaged with the organization and its network. Through my work with bar associations and advocacy organizations, I have developed a strong foundation in leadership, policy, and community-building. I am committed to bringing these skills to MuBANY and contributing meaningfully to its mission and members.