Shamsi Ali Joins ISNA Leadership in Milestone for Indonesian Muslim Diaspora

INDIANAPOLIS, INDONESIAN POST — Indonesian-born New York imam Shamsi Ali has been formally inducted into the leadership council of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), marking a milestone for the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in the United States.

The induction took place at ISNA’s headquarters in Plainfield, Indiana, on November 7, 2026.

Established in the early 1960s, ISNA serves Muslim communities in the United States and Canada through education and Islamic outreach.

Ali’s election brings Indonesian representation to the organization’s national leadership, marking a significant moment for the Indonesian Muslim community in the United States.

ISNA’s leadership has traditionally been dominated by figures with roots in the Middle East and South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Following the induction, the nine elected members of the board, also known as the Shura Council, immediately held their first meeting to assign responsibilities and set the organization’s priorities for 2027.

Ali was assigned responsibility for interfaith relations, community alliances and government affairs.

Ali said the priorities discussed at the meeting ranged from reviewing ISNA’s vision and mission to preparing for its annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri, in September 2027. The convention is scheduled to take place alongside a Global Muslim Leadership Forum featuring international leaders.

Among those priorities, said Ali, who was born in Kajang, South Sulawesi, is lobbying members of Congress to pass a resolution against Islamophobia, drawing on existing measures addressing antisemitism.

“This strategic responsibility is expected not only to strengthen Islamic outreach in North America but also to demonstrate Indonesian Muslims’ contribution to the wider world,” he said.

(Portalamanah/Bilah*)