Pakistani PM, Mohamed Salah on Time magazine's 100 list

WASHINGTON

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah were selected among the world's most 100 influential individuals Wednesday by Time magazine.

In a write-up penned by veteran Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid, Khan, a crickerter-turned-politician, is lauded for fostering "the broadest hope among young and old that he can turn Pakistan around, and help make South Asia an ocean of peace rather than a state of permanent conflict."

Salah, who plays for Liverpool in the English Premier League and for Egypt's national team, has garnered international fame for his prowess on the pitch, but was noted for the modesty he exhibits amid the spotlight.

"You’d be hard-pressed to find a professional athlete in any sport less affected by their success or status than Mo, which is incredible because I can’t imagine the kind of pressure that comes with the intensity of adoration he receives," wrote political satirist John Oliver.

"Mo is an iconic figure for Egyptians, Scousers and Muslims the world over, and yet he always comes across as a humble, thoughtful, funny man who isn’t taking any of this too seriously," Oliver added.

Rami Malek, the rising Egyptian-American actor whose portrayal of Queen's iconic frontman Freddie Mercury netted him a lead actor Oscar at this year's Academy Awards, was also honored as "understated and kind, complicated and relatable; he’s downright mercurial."

"I contend that his mother Nelly, his father Said, his sister Yasmine and his brother Sami are the foundational pillars to his rise. Mighta just been destiny … more likely it’s yet another testament to hardworking immigrants raising their kids right and pushing our culture toward the light," Robert Downey, Jr. wrote.

London's Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan lauded New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her handling of the aftermath of the worst mass shooting in that nation’s modern history, which targeted two mosques in the predominantly Christian country.

"Ardern’s leadership since the attack has been an inspiration to us all," Khan wrote. "We will never forget that when terror sent ripples of fear through communities around the world, New Zealand’s Prime Minister proudly stood up for hope, unity and inclusiveness in the face of fear, division and hatred."

Radhya Al-Mutawakel, the Yemeni activist who exposed human rights abuses by all parties in Yemen's ongoing civil war, was commemorated by Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders who said she and her organization "face risks every day to uncover the human costs of war."

This year's list of honorees includes U.S. President Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Progressive American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Muslim-American comic Hasan Minhaj, Emirati Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, Pope Francis and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu.