Secretary: Issam Michael Saliba, Esq.

Issam Michael Saliba is the recognized expert on Islamic law and the laws of Middle Eastern and North African countries at the Law Library of Congress. He provides legal advice in these areas to the U.S. Congress, executive branch, and judiciary. In this capacity, Mr. Saliba has testified before the U.S. Congress on such issues as the Iraqi constitution and the laws on oil and gas production agreements.

Mr. Saliba has extensive experience in the legal profession as a member of the Beirut Bar and an associate member of the District of Columbia Bar. He also served as counsel for several major U.S. corporations and a foreign government.

Mr. Saliba has participated as a faculty member in seminars and continuing legal education (CLE) programs sponsored by organizations such as the District of Columbia Bar, the Law Library of Congress, and the American Society of International Law (ASIL.)

He has also written on matters of international criminal law and other legal issues regarding developments in the Middle East, including feature articles on the trial of Saddam Hussein: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/hussein/index.php; the creation of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon http://www.loc.gov/law/help/hariri/hariri.pdf; and the constitutional rules for the Lebanese presidential election: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/lebanon-election.html.

Mr. Saliba lectures on a regular basis to broad audiences of professionals, academics, and the general public on topics related to the Middle East such as jihad and militancy, Hezbollah and the concept of Wilayat al-Faqih, and the presidential election in Lebanon.

Mr. Saliba is also active in his local community. He has served as a treasurer and member of the Board of the McLean Choral Society, an elected member and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Governing Board of the McLean Community Center, and a candidate to the School Board of Fairfax County.