WNY Muslim Community Leader Receives National Attorney General Award

    BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. was in Washington, D.C. today as Dr. Khalid Qazi received the Attorney General’s Citizen Volunteer Service Award for Community Service for his outstanding volunteer contributions to the mission of the Justice Department.

Dr. Qazi, a local physician and past president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Western New York, received the award during the 28th Annual Attorney General’s Volunteer Awards ceremony in Washington. He was honored for his work to establish a positive, working relationship between Federal, State and local law enforcement and the Muslim Community. 

“In a post 9/11 world, Dr. Qazi has been instrumental in helping to build bridges between local law enforcement agencies and leaders and members of the Muslim Community,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Dr. Qazi has helped to break down walls that often prevented meaningful communication and forge a relationship of trust and hope.”

Dr. Qazi has been working with the United States Attorney’s Office for several years, serving as a liaison between the USAO and the local Muslim Community. For instance, Dr. Qazi works closely with U.S. Attorney Hochul on the BRIDGES Program which was established to build better relationships between the Muslim Community in Western New York and the law enforcement community.  

U.S. Attorney Hochul cited the following accomplishments in his nomination of Dr. Qazi for the award:

             A job fair for youth in the local Muslim community.
             A commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.
             Sensitivity training for local Customs and Border Protection officers.
             A panel discussion for members of the Muslim Community regarding surveillance conducted by the New York City Police Department in the local Muslim community.

The Citizen Volunteer Service Award was established to honor citizen volunteers who assist the Justice Department in serving the public interest.