Nationwide Islamophobia Discussion to Kick Off in Dallas, Texas

On Sunday, July 8, a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group will kick off a nationwide discussion of "Islamophobia," or fear and hatred of Islam and Muslims, with a panel discussion in Dallas, Texas. It is the first in a series of similar public discussions scheduled around the nation by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

The Dallas event, entitled "Do U.S. Policies Fuel Islamophobia?" and hosted by CAIR's Dallas/Fort Worth chapter (CAIR-DFW), will seek to explain the historical context of the issue and provide resources for gaining a better understanding of the negative impact anti-Muslim bigotry has on American society and on our nation's interests worldwide. Panelists will also discuss the government's actions in the case against officials of the closed Texas-based Holy Land Foundation Muslim charity.

WHAT: Panel Discussion - "Do U.S. Policies Fuel Islamophobia?"
WHEN: Sunday, July 8, 2007, 1:30-4 p.m.
WHERE: Crowne Plaza Park Central, 7800 Alpha Road, Dallas, Texas
CONTACT: CAIR-DFW Board Member Khalil Meek, 972-849-9188, E-Mail: emeek@roctransport.com, kmeek68@msn.com; CAIR-DFW Operations Director Laila Khan, 972-221-7241, E-Mail: info@cairdfw.org

"Given the lamentable state of our nation's international image, it is imperative that American Muslims analyze the situation and advocate solutions that will help remove the perception that we, as a nation, are at war with the faith of Islam," said CAIR Board Chairman Parvez Ahmed, who is one of the panelists.

Confirmed speakers include:

* Parvez Ahmed: Dr. Parvez Ahmed is national board chair of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Ahmed is an associate professor of finance at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. He also serves as a board member for OneJax, formerly the National Conference on Community and Justice (NCCJ).

* Susan Abulhawa: Susan Abulhawa is the founder of Playgrounds for Palestine and author of the recently-released novel "The Scar of David."

* Lawrence Davidson: Lawrence Davidson is professor of Middle East history at West Chester University in West Chester, Penn. He is author of "America's Palestine: Popular and Official Perceptions from Balfour to Israeli Statehood," "Islamic Fundamentalism" and co-author with Arthur Goldschmidt of "A Concise History of the Middle East."

Other scheduled CAIR events designed to highlight the negative impact of Islamophobia include a symposium this weekend in Davie, Fla., and a July 17th panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., entitled "Attacking Islam: Implications for Social Cohesion and U.S. Relations with the Muslim World." The July 17th panel features American Conservative Union President David Keene.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 33 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: info@cair.com
URL: http://www.cair.com

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