Mafid Abdulqader is part of the Holy Land Five, a group of Muslim activists targeted during the Bush Administration’s attack on Muslim activists after September 11th.  He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Personal Background

Born in Silwad, Palestine in 1959, Mr. Abdelqader lived much of his young adult life in Kuwait. In 1980, he migrated to the United States to receive a college education and pursue his dreams. He lived in Irving, Texas for a few months before moving to Claremore, Okla. then Stillwater, Okla. To fund his tuition at Oklahoma State University, Mr. Abdelqader briefly worked as a dishwasher at an Italian Restaurant and a cashier at Wendy's. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1984.

In 1985, he married Diane. He received his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1994. The family lived in Oklahoma City for several years before finally moving to Richardson, Texas in 1996. He and Diane currently have three daughters ages 8 to 19 and all American-born.

Since 1996, Mr. Abdelqader has worked for the city of Dallas as a Senior Project Manager in the public works and transportation departments. Driven by his passion to help the less fortunate, Mr. Abdelqader has always had the passion to serve the less fortunate, thus becoming a volunteer for HLF.