Irshad Manji is a Senior Fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy and the internationally best-selling author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith. The Jakarta Post in Indonesia identifies Irshad as one of three Muslim women making positive change in Islam. In countries that have banned her book, she is reaching readers by posting free translations on her website. Irshad is also creator of the acclaimed PBS documentary, “Faith Without Fear.” It is now being shown in underground screenings throughout the Muslim world. She is joining New York University to direct the Moral Courage Challenge, an effort to develop young leaders who will break silences in their own communities for the sake of a greater good. Irshad puts that principle into practice by spearheading Project Ijtihad. This is an emerging movement of reform-minded Muslims who aim to renew Islam’s tradition of critical thinking, debate, and dissent. Raised in Canada, Irshad was born in Uganda to a mother from Egypt and a father from India.  Irshad holds her B.A. from the University of British Columbia.