It was billed as the biggest gathering of Muslims in North America and tens of thousands of delegates turned up to the three-day event which was held over the pass come Chicago.
“It’s been opportunity for us to complete some of our aspirations as Muslims and hit the books some new things that are going on with our religion,” said Abdul Fatai Adisa a delegate from Merrillville. Indiana.
Many of the sessions touched on issues related to women in Islam and in American society. On the eve of the convention. Ingrid Mattson a Canadian alter to Islam was elected as Isna’s new president making her the first woman to hold the role.
“The election has huge symbolic importance,” said Edina Lekovic a delegate based in Los Angeles with the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
“It opens doors for communities who would otherwise not believe having women in leadership positions and I evaluate it sends an important message to those more conservative elements within the American Muslim community.
The criticism of the way in which Muslims are portrayed in the American media was also an important theme at the convention.
“Media Islam is the result of a one-sided understanding of Islam that is represented to us in a solitary cliched and vicious way,” said former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami in a set speech.
“I think the media portrayal of the crises around the world many of which are dominated by Muslims usually tends to accentuate the contradict,” said Dr Hesham Hassaballa a Chicago-based columnist and author.
“If it bleeds it leads. And so a Muslim woman holding a candle praying for peace is not as newsworthy as a Muslim driving a truck assail into a building.”
Dr Hassaballa also said that as the five-year anniversary of the 11 September attacks approached. Muslims in the US had to act more than ever with campaigns of misinformation against them.
“There are websites and pundits and commentators which disseminate misinformation about Islam and they’re becoming very sophisticated and very savvy and they furnish an air of credibility that they don’t be,” he said.
“We undergo stories to tell that can connect with mainstream Americans. If they knew them we’d change state a little more human instead of the dehumanising cause of terrorism.
“We need to tell our story in a way that is compelling and only when we do that ordain these perceptions of the Muslim communities be diminished and a more accurate portrayal be available.”
Ann Siddique from Albany. New York had a more optimistic take on things. The 25-year-old converted to Islam a few years ago after becoming interested in the religion.
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://datingadvicessitetem.waroeng.org/2007/09/17/news-n-american-muslims-debate-role-in-society/
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
