"Current events reporting often confuses faith, culture, and politics. Anisa Mehdi helps sort them out." Society of Professional Journalists
Anisa Mehdi is an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and writer specializing in religion and the arts. She is executive producer of "Sheikh Mand Temple: A New Day Dawns," and "Hanging On By A Thread: The Shal of Bakhdeda," 2024 documentary shorts about imperiled cultural heritage practices in Nineveh, Iraq. The films are screening at film festivals in the USA, France, Mexico, and Spain.
From 2017 through 2023, Anisa led the Abraham Path Initiative, a not-for-profit, in the launch of 1500 miles of walking trails in Southwest Asia (aka "the Middle East"). International walkers bring visibility to remote parts of the region and take fresh stories back to their home countries. The project, importantly, stimulates economic progress in small communities off-the-beaten-path of tourism. These locally owned and managed trails are in Jordan, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Turkey, Palestine's West Bank, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Go to www.abrahampath.org for more information.
Anisa's previous global affairs columns and commentary are archived at Stratfor.com and at NPR's All Things Considered. She has consulted to the US Department of State, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. Anisa was a 2009-2010 Fulbright Scholar in Jordan. She is the first American to broadcast the Hajj pilgrimage on mainstream US Televison. Anisa's documentaries have appeared on PBS, ABC and National Geographic Television.
Learn more about Anisa Mehdi Anisa's Archive of Events Contact Anisa
~ Anisa's recent films have won international recognition as Best Documentary Short and Best Religion Film. First time filmmaker Fahed Shamo, director of "Sheikh Mand Temple: A New Day Dawns," has won Best Debut Director.
~ Anisa was among the finalists for excellence in religion reporting in th the 2020 Religion News Association competition. She is recognized for her work at Stratfor.com. See the full list here. Anisa is proud to be named with other prestigious journalists.
~ Read Anisa’s recent Stratfor columns:
~ "In the footsteps of Abraham: what a Biblical hiking path reveals of hopes for peace in the West Bank" - Claire Hajaj, author of "Ishmael’s Oranges," walks the Abraham Path in the Palestinian spring. Here is her story.
~ In 2016, Canvas television's "Wanderlust" featured Anisa Mehdi in a series of portraits of profound thinkers. Here is the program preview:Anisa is America’s leading filmmaker on the Hajj pilgrimage. Her 2014 PBS film premiered December 23, 2014 on PBS stations nationwide. She tells the story of a group of Muslims from Boston as they complete the transformative rituals of the Hajj, facing setbacks and surprises along the way. The film is one of six documentaries in the series "Sacred Journeys" with Bruce Feiler and features Anisa as on-camera correspondent.
Watch Preview Below:
In this film series Anisa teams with WGBH television, Eaton Creative and Maya Vision International of London. She covers the annual pilgrimage from the point of view of group or community: what does it mean in 21st century American life to put other before self and to see other as self, in the midst of a physically and spiritually challenging adventure? We follow members and friends of the Islamic Society of Boston as they undertake this 1400-year-old sacred journey.
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“Insightful, informative and accurate! An inspiration to listen to!”
Amaney Jamal, Edward S. Sanford Professor of Politics, Princeton University
“I thought that the case Anisa built was completely convincing and her replies to questions were a model of insight and empathy.”
Robert McDermott, CIIS president emeritus and professor of philosophy and religion
“Thank you for a wonderful presentation. I could have listened to you for another hour. It seemed as if you were having an intimate conversation with each of us.”
Richeleen Dashield, Dean of Multicultural Affairs, Raritan Valley Community College
“You made important points about the role of art and creative expression [inThose who have faith know art cannot threaten it, Star-Ledger, September 29, 2006]. The piece is needed both for Muslims and others. Your message seems to be speaking to all quarters.”
David Bossman, Professor, Department of Jewish-Christian Studies, Seton Hall University; Editor, Biblical Theology Bulletin
"Anisa is a first-rate scholar and a gifted teacher who can engage an audience. It was a pleasure having her visit us."
Harvey Susswein, Kaplan Minyan, Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ
“I really enjoyed the interview I had today with Anisa Mehdi. She gives such thoughtful and clear answers. I could talk to her over and over.”
David Lile, KFRU radio talk show host
“I was asked to name the 15-20 most influential US Muslims who are shaping what Muslims and non-Muslim think about Islam and Muslims and [Anisa Mehdi was] on my list.”
Tayyibah Taylor, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Azizah Magazine
Did you know Anisa's father?
Dr. Mohammad T. Mehdi
Head of the American Arab Relations Committee and National Council on Islamic Affairs
How did he impress you? How did he inspire you? In what circumstances and when did your paths cross?
Anisa requests your input as she begins an in-depth biography of her father. Please send a story about or a memory of Dr. M.T. Mehdi to "An Arab Looks at America": MTM@anisamehdi.com
Include your contact information for possible follow-up.