US Muslim preacher named Islamic personality of year

Yusuf Estes, an American Muslim preacher and teacher, was named the Islamic personality of the year for the 16th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), the organisers said Monday.

Estes was chosen among a group of nominees for his unremitting efforts to spread and preach Islam's tolerant teachings and values in the West, chairman of the organising committee Ibrahim Bumelha told reporters.

Estes, born in 1944 in Texas, US, was raised in a Protestant family. He became a Muslim in 1991 and since then he has been preaching Islam in the west.