Biography
Murtaza Khwaja, a civil rights attorney, serves as the Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta. Khwaja previously served as Executive Director at CAIR Georgia where his leadership saw him combatting discrimination and bigotry with creative legal strategies, including federal impact litigation fighting anti-boycott laws and addressing prison conditions, while also providing direct legal services for victims of religious discrimination and police brutality. Khwaja’s almost decade of experience in policy work at the local, state, and national levels was built alongside cross-racial, intersectional movements of power in communities of color, advancing immigrant rights, voting rights, criminal justice reform centered around transformative justice, and the expansion of social services. Khwaja co-founded the 2020 and 2022 CAIR to Vote initiatives, which saw historic voter turnout in the respective presidential and senatorial/gubernatorial elections.
As Executive Director of Advancing Justice Atlanta, Khwaja plays a pivotal role in steering the organization toward the realization of its mission and programmatic initiatives. Khwaja spearheads efforts to advance the rights of Asian American communities, advocate for immigrant rights, and promote equitable access to justice. Under his leadership, Advancing Justice Atlanta has embarked on bold, transformative initiatives to address systemic barriers and empower historically marginalized populations.
Articles, Publications, and Appearances
FEATURED IN: 11-Alive, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Khabar Magazine, USA Today, The New Arab, Al-Jazeera, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WSBTV, 11-Alive, Fox 5 Atlanta, WSBTV
Advocates concerned after cost increases for some U.S. immigration and naturalization services
Antisemitism bill falls short at Georgia General Assembly
Right to boycott Israel challenged in Georgia, Arkansas courts
Questions remain after US cop kills Muslim man who ‘threw rocks’
Family of woman shot, killed by Johns Creek police files lawsuit against officers, city
Family says driver made obscene gestures, swerved into lane because of their religion
Police investigate ‘aggressive driving’ incident reported by Muslim family
Muslim family claims driver harassed them, made obscene gestures on I-85