Saima Bhutta

By Annabelle Sebastian

Image courtesy of the Muslim Federation of South Jersey

Saima Bhutta has been a social justice advocate in South Jersey for over 25 years. When Bhutta saw the rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric following the 9/11 attacks, she was inspired to become further involved in her own community.

Bhutta was one of the founding members of the Pakistan American Society of South Jersey, the Muslim Federation of South Jersey, and United We Serve Moorestown, where she has led clothing and food drives to help Afghan refugees and families in need in the South Jersey area, organized donations to be sent abroad to Pakistan to help victims of the 2022 floods, organized interfaith meetings, and distributed personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic. For two years, Bhutta lobbied the Moorestown town council to recognize January as Muslim Heritage Month, succeeding in her efforts in January of 2024.

In addition to her activism, Bhutta has worked extensively in the healthcare field. Bhutta works as a physician’s assistant in Hammonton, New Jersey. In 2006, Bhutta was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Medal for providing health care services to Camden County’s homeless populations through the H.O.P.E. project. Additionally, Bhutta has led campaigns to get people vaccinated during the pandemic.

Bhutta’s work has garnered her recognition on the county and state level. Bhutta was recognized for her commitment to diversity and inclusion during Burlington County’s 2021 Outstanding Women of Burlington County Awards Reception. Additionally, she was a part of the 2021 Women’s History Month webinar hosted by Governor Phil Murphy. In 2022, she was appointed to Governor Murphy’s A.A.P.I. commission.

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References:

Bellano, Anthony. “Moorestown Woman to Be Recognized for Diveristy, Inclusion Work.” Moorestown, NJ Patch. Patch, September 10, 2021. https://patch.com/new-jersey/moorestown/moorestown-woman-be-recognized-diveristy-inclusion-work.  

Bellano, Anthony. “NJ Woman Found Passion to Combat Islamophobia after 9/11 Attacks.” Moorestown, NJ Patch. Patch, September 10, 2021. https://patch.com/new-jersey/moorestown/moorestown-woman-found-passion-help-after-9-11-attacks.  

Harkinson, Christine. “Bringing Communities Together.” The Sun Newspapers, March 19, 2023. https://thesunpapers.com/2023/03/20/bringing-communities-together/.

Harkinson, Christine. “Council Declares January Muslim Heritage Month.” The Sun Newspapers, January 25, 2024. https://thesunpapers.com/2024/01/25/council-declares-january-muslim-heritage-month/.

Harkinson, Christine. “‘Let’s All Work Together.’” The Sun Newspapers, November 21, 2022. https://thesunpapers.com/2022/11/18/lets-all-work-together/.

Harkinson, Christine. “Making a Difference.” The Sun Newspapers, June 15, 2024. https://thesunpapers.com/2024/06/14/making-a-difference/.

Harkinson, Christine. “Moorestown Resident Reaches Communities In Need.” The Sun Newspapers, May 5, 2022. https://thesunpapers.com/2022/05/05/moorestown-resident-reaches-communities-in-need/.  

Harkinson, Christine. “Sharing Diversity.” The Sun Newspapers, August 15, 2023. https://thesunpapers.com/2023/08/14/sharing-diversity/.

Suggested Citation:

Sebastian, Annabelle. “Saima Bhutta.” New Jersey Women’s History, Rowan University Libraries, 2024. https://njwomenshistory.org/biographies/saima-bhutta/.