Arsalan Iftikhar
A public interest lawyer who uses media savvy and sharp analysis to challenge Islamophobia and defend civil liberties in post-9/11 America.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American lawyer·Birthday: September 1·Generation X
Biography
Arsalan Iftikhar operates at the busy intersection of law, media, and human rights. The son of Pakistani immigrants, he built a career defending constitutional principles in an era of heightened fear and suspicion. As founder of TheMuslimGuy.com and a frequent commentator for major networks, he became a recognizable voice arguing against the stereotyping of Muslim communities. His work extends beyond the TV studio; as a senior editor for *Islamic Monthly* and an author, he dissects the political and social mechanics of Islamophobia, framing it not just as a prejudice but as a national security liability. Iftikhar’s legal background informs his advocacy, which often focuses on free speech, privacy rights, and the protection of vulnerable groups from discriminatory policies. He represents a new model of public intellectual, using accessible platforms to engage in complex debates about identity, freedom, and belonging in modern America.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Arsalan was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arsalan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Arsalan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded TheMuslimGuy.com, a platform for commentary on civil liberties and Muslim-American issues.
- Authored the book 'Fear of a Muslim Planet: Global Islamophobia in the New World Order.'
- Served as a senior editor for The Islamic Monthly magazine.
- Regularly contributes legal and political analysis as a commentator for CNN, BBC, NPR, and other major media outlets.
Did You Know?
He is a licensed attorney in Illinois, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Supreme Court.
He has served as a national board member for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
His nickname, 'The Muslim Guy,' was originally the name of his personal blog.
“My faith and my citizenship are not a contradiction; they are my foundation.”
