KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been named the 15th most influential Muslim figure in the 2025 edition of The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims by Jordan's Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC).
Anwar is featured twice—ranked 9th in the 'Rulers and Politicians' category and also listed in the 'Top 50 and Honourable Mentions'.
The publication highlights his turbulent political career, noting both triumphs and setbacks, including his clash with then- Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the 1997 financial crisis and his subsequent imprisonment.
"In 1999, Anwar was jailed on charges of corruption and sodomy, though his sodomy conviction was overturned in 2004 due to insufficient evidence.
"Despite being repeatedly imprisoned and released over the next two decades, including during his tenure as Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2015, Anwar remained resilient," it said.
It described Anwar as a "literary enthusiast" who found solace in reading Shakespeare's complete works four times in prison and survived through reading and singing.
The RISSC highlighted Anwar's relentless fight and outspoken stance on the plight of Palestinians and the war in Gaza, positioning him as a singular voice against the West
"Anwar has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian right to resist occupation. His meetings with Hamas officials (including the late assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh) have drawn criticism from the USA."
Anwar was praised for speaking out against Meta Platforms Inc– the American multinational technology conglomerate that owns Facebook and Instagram– for removing his postings of condolences for the slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniych who was assassinated in Tehran, by an apparent "Zionist" airstrike.
"His social media posts offering condolences after the assassination of Ismail Haniych were taken down, prompting him to say: "Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime."
Other prominent figures in the Rulers and Politicians category include Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto, Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus, and London mayor Sadiq Khan. Jordan's King Abdullah II topped the overall list, followed by Yemeni scholar Sheikh Al-Habib Umar Hafiz and Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, and Palestinian activist Bisan Owda were also recognised in other categories.