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  • Murad Abdullah, President of the Ismaili Council for the Southeastern United States accompanies United States Senator for Georgia, David Perdue during his visit to the Ismaili Jamatkhana in Decatur, Georgia.
    Dr. Nadya Merchant | 19 July 2019 | USA

    Ismaili Jamatkhanas in Greater Atlanta Host Elected Officials

    Murad Abdullah, President of the Ismaili Council for the Southeastern United States accompanies United States Senator for Georgia, David Perdue during his visit to the Ismaili Jamatkhana in Decatur, Georgia. Akbar Hakim
  • Senator David Perdue joins community members and leaders for a picture during a luncheon at the Ismaili Jamatkhana.
    Dr. Nadya Merchant | 19 July 2019 | USA

    Ismaili Jamatkhanas in Greater Atlanta Host Elected Officials

    Senator David Perdue joins community members and leaders for a picture during a luncheon at the Ismaili Jamatkhana. Akbar Hakim
  • Commissioner Ku excited to read the IIS publication, Islam: An Illustrated Journey, presented to him as a token of appreciation during his visit.
    Dr. Nadya Merchant | 19 July 2019 | USA

    Ismaili Jamatkhanas in Greater Atlanta Host Elected Officials

    Commissioner Ku excited to read the IIS publication, Islam: An Illustrated Journey, presented to him as a token of appreciation during his visit. Amir Hakim
  • Gwinnett County Commissioner Ben Ku meets President Murad Abdullah and other community members to discuss how to engage Gwinnett citizens from diverse backgrounds into leadership and board positions within the county.
    Dr. Nadya Merchant | 19 July 2019 | USA

    Ismaili Jamatkhanas in Greater Atlanta Host Elected Officials

    Gwinnett County Commissioner Ben Ku meets President Murad Abdullah and other community members to discuss how to engage Gwinnett citizens from diverse backgrounds into leadership and board positions within the county. Amir Hakim

Ismaili Jamatkhanas foster an appreciation of pluralism and serve as a perfect venue for sharing the Ismaili Muslim identity and community values with the greater community. Events hosted at the Jamatkhana stimulate the intellect, encourage dialogue, and celebrate cultural diversity in the Greater Atlanta Area. They are often also used to host government and community leaders to enhance relations and find pathways for civic engagement.

United States Senator for Georgia, David Alfred Perdue Jr., recently visited the Atlanta Ismaili Jamatkhana in Decatur and was welcomed by leaders of the local Ismaili community for a luncheon. He enjoyed a tour of the Jamatkhana space and called the visit a “connection of spirits.”

The value that the Ismaili community and the Aga Khan Development Network places on the intellect and education resonated particularly strongly with Senator Perdue, as his mother is a school teacher.

Before diving into politics, Senator Perdue was a Fortune 500 CEO and his work often took him around the globe. During one such trip, he stayed at the Serena Hotel in Lahore and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the hotel falls under the Aga Khan Development Network’s arm for economic development.

The Jamatkhana in Norcross, Georgia, separately hosted Gwinnett County Commissioner Ben Ku. Commissioner Ku was recently elected to the office, and while he had previously visited the Jamatkhana for a candidate forum, he used this visit as an opportunity to learn more about the Ismaili community that resides in his district. Commissioner Ku is a grandson of Chinese immigrants and one of his goals is to ensure that minority voices are heard in local governments. He joined Ismaili community leaders in a discussion on how to better engage citizens from diverse backgrounds into leadership positions and boards within the county.