Salman Ahmad is the popular guitarist and composer of the
musical group Junoon. Since its formation in the early 1990s,
Junoon has become a phenomenon in the South Asian music scene
and beyond, performing live at BBC's Mega Mela, the MTV music
awards in India, and at the United Nations General Assembly in
New York. Ahmad, with Junoon, has been increasingly involved in
humanitarian efforts, including playing at events such as the
Building Human Rights Culture Gala, the Empower Peace program
with students in Pakistan, and fundraising for Hurricane Katrina
victims. Most recently, in coordination with the UN, Ahmad has
joined relief operations for the October 2005 earthquake victims
in northern Pakistan.
Ahmad has produced two documentary films. The Rock Star
and the Mullahs tracks Ahmad's visit to the northern
Pakistani town of Peshawar, where he directly challenges the
local Muslim clergy who have banned all forms of music. His most
recent film, Muslims in America: It's My Country Too,
uncovers the authentic spirit of American Muslims and their
experience wrestling with the personal and social consequences
of the 9/11 attacks.
Ahmad is a goodwill ambassador for the UN, acting as the US
national spokesperson in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He is also
on the board of directors of Breakthrough, an international
human rights organization that uses education and popular
culture to promote values of dignity, equality, and justice.
organizational affiliations
Junoon
http://www.junoon.com/home2.htm
Breakthroughhttp://www.breakthrough.tv/index.asp
