Leadership & Team

The people behind AMHRI bring decades of legal, human-rights, and community experience across Yemen and the United States.

Mohammed Alaw — Founder-President

Lawyer and international human-rights expert with 22+ years of experience. Founder and President of AMHRI since its establishment in Yemen in 2007, and President of the New York entity. A member of the Yemeni Bar Association authorized to plead before Yemen's Supreme Court, he has participated in sessions of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva since 2011 and in UN forums in New York. He leads AMHRI's human-rights advocacy, partnerships, and strategy.

Aziz Zaid — Vice President

Yemeni-American human-rights activist and Vice President of AMHRI in the United States since its establishment. He has campaigned for the rights of immigrants and refugees in the U.S., delivered briefings at sessions of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, and taken part in UN human-rights conferences in New York.

Waleed Saleh — Executive Director

Executive Director of AMHRI in the United States. He provides strategic leadership and overall management of the organization — overseeing programs, advocacy initiatives, and operations; representing AMHRI before national and international stakeholders; and ensuring alignment with the mission, legal compliance, and ethical standards.

Abdo Almasmary — Advocacy Team Leader

Advocacy Team Leader at AMHRI, bringing extensive community-outreach, marketing, and public-service experience in New York — including years of community engagement and service with the New York City Police Department. He helps build relationships across the Yemeni-American community and partner organizations.