Draft:Imtiaz Sooliman
Imtiaz Ismail Sooliman (born 7 March 1962) is a South African medical doctor. He is known for founding Gift of the Givers, a humanitarian organization.[1]
Imtiaz Sooliman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Imtiaz Ismail Sooliman 7 March 1962 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Alma mater | University of Natal |
| Occupation(s) | Medical doctor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Humanitarian work |
| Spouse | Zohra |
Early life and education[edit]
Sooliman was born on 7 March 1962 in Potchefstroom,[2]He completed his high school education at Sastri College in Durban, Natal in 1978. He qualified as a medical doctor by obtaining his MBChB at the University of Natal. He ran a medical practise in Pietermaritzburg, Natal up to 1986.[3] He is married to Zohra.[4]
Career[edit]
Sooliman's drive for the establishing of Gift of the Givers, was the instruction of a Sufi sheik, Muhammed Safer Dal Effendi of the Jerrahi tariqah, which happened in Istanbul, Turkey on 6 August 1992.[5]
In the 1994 elections Sooliman ran for political office as the head of the Africa Muslim Party. However, the party failed to win any seats and he subsequently left politics.[6]
His organisation is funded by ordinary South Africans.[7] Some of the projects where he has been involved include:
- 2014 hostage rescue operations in Yemen – Trying via negotiations to free Pierre Korkie, a teacher, who was held by militants from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Korkie died in the American rescue attempt.[8]
- Iraq – Helping local citizens in the aftermath of the war between Iraq and forces of the US and the UK.[9]
- Mauritania – Building a centre and nursery for woman and children.[10]
- Syria – Delivered supplies to refugees in the Idlib region where a war was on-going.[11]
- Nepal – Rescue operations after an earthquake in April 2015.[12]
- South Africa – Beaufort West and Fraserburg - assisting the towns with their water crisis.[13]
Recognition[edit]
- 19 October 1993 – President's Order of the Star of South Africa from President F.W. De Klerk, which is the highest civilian award in the country.[14][15]
- 25 April 1997 – Pietermaritzburg City Council Civic Commendation Award from President Nelson Mandela for Outstanding Community Service.[16]
- 30 June 2006 – Presidential Award, Tamgha-i-Eisaar, from the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, for Pakistan Earthquake.[17]
- 28 November 2008 – South African Medical Association Excellence in Health Care Award.[18]
- 18 November 2009 – Recognised as one of 500 of the world's most influential Muslims in a book by Professor John Esposito of Georgetown University, USA.[19]
- 1 April 2016 – Honorary Doctorate from Rhodes University, in Grahamstown, South Africa.[20]
- 7 September 2017 – Chancellor's Medal from the University of Pretoria.[21]
- 1 February 2018 – FW de Klerk Foundation presented him with the Goodwill Award.[22]
- 20 March 2018 – Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stellenbosch for the establishment of the Gift of the Givers.[23]
- 21 June 2018 – Standard Bank KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Award.[24]
References[edit]
- ^ "Global South African". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Speakers". Sorsa Rssa. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Imtiaz Sooliman". The Presidency. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ Magubane, T. (15 June 2012). "Gift of the Givers founder hijacked". News24. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ "Gift of the givers". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ Vahed, Goolam (2000). "Indians, Islam and the Meaning of South African Citizenship: a Question of Identities" (PDF). Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa (43): 25–51.
- ^ "Gift of the Givers' Dr Imtiaz Sooliman – angel amongst men – talks about money". 702. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ^ Nicola (8 December 2014). "Korkie Family Thank Imtiaz Sooliman and Gift of the Givers in Statement". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "SA reaches out to Iraq". Mail&Guardian. 3 June 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ "Help us build Mauritania's first women's eco-mahdhara". Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Gift of the Givers appeals to South Africans to help trapped Syrians". News24. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ "Gift of the Givers joins rescue efforts in Nepal". ENCA. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ Saal, P. (14 November 2017). "Gift of the Givers boosts quest for water in Beaufort West". Times Live. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "List of awards" (PDF). Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "President's Order of the Star of South Africa". Gift of the Givers. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Mbongwa, L. (September 2010). "Humanitarian honoured at Spring Graduation" (PDF). Durban University of Technology. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Musharraf gives away rescue, relief awards". Business Recorder. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Ceremony" (PDF). Nelson Mandela University. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ Esposito, J. (2009). "500 most influential Muslims" (PDF). Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Rhodes honour for Sooliman". Press Reader. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Ndlazi, S. (7 September 2017). "University Council award for Sooliman". The Mercury newspaper. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Statement 2018 FW de Klerk Goodwill award". FW de Klerk Foundation. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Special honorary degrees to be awarded in SU's centenary year". University of Stellenbosch. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ "Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards 2018". KZN. 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.