Mohamed Al Hassan (aka Mohamed Elhasan Mohamed) (born 1961) is a Sudanese American entrepreneur.[1][2] He has also twice campaigned to become the President of Sudan (in 2010 and 2015).[3]
Mohamed Al Hassan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 |
| Nationality | Sudanese |
| Other names |
|
| Education | |
| Political party | Sudan National Reform Party |
| Movement | Reformist |
| Spouses |
|
| Parent | Elhassan Mohammed (father) |
| Relatives |
|
Background
He earned a degree in philosophy from Cairo University[4] in Khartoum before moving from Sudan to the United States in the 1980s. In the states, he sold newspapers, candy and hot dogs on a corner in Manhattan, New York City[citation needed]. Wishing to expand on his ambitions, he then moved to Dallas, Texas and delivered pizzas before driving taxi cabs, eventually founding a company called Jet Taxi, which he later sold to Yellow Cab[citation needed]. He also expanded his education at Spring Creek Community College in Plano[citation needed]. In addition to Jet Taxi, Mohamed created other companies, 'Paradise Prime Investment' in America[citation needed], and the solar energy development company 'AlSufi International' in Sudan.[4][3] He currently serves as the president of the Al Sufi Center in Irving, Texas, and as vice president of the Sudan National Reform Party[citation needed].
Though his name did not appear the ballots,[5] he ran against Omar al-Bashir for the office of Sudan President in both 2010 and 2015.[6][1] An April 2015 Bloomberg Business report stated that of President Omar al-Bashir's competitors, Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed "had the most ambitious agenda".[7]
He is a Sufi Muslim who directs the Islamic Sufi Center in Texas, established in the early 1990s.[2] He also leads a Sufi house of worship in Irving[citation needed]. In this capacity he defended the Quran in a mock jury trial against Christian fundamentalist Rev. Terry Jones,[8] but was greatly surprised and saddened by Jones choosing to burn the Quran as part of his exhibition, and the three days of violent response which resulted in Afghanistan.[9]
In late 2013 a furor arose out of an Arabic-language email circulating that promised to assist parties in acquiring land in and traveling to Sudan, and resulted from the larger-than-expected turn-out of those interested in taking part.[10]
He is married to Muna Ahmed Ibraham,[4] and is the father of Ahmed Mohamed, who was arrested and suspended from attending his high school after bringing in to school a digital clock he had assembled that a teacher believed looked like a hoax bomb, which sparked a controversy over Islamophobia, childhood experimentation and zero-tolerance policies.[11][12] Mohamed holds dual citizenship in both Sudan and the United States.[13]