What It Means to Be Muslim in America: Georgetown/ On Faith Symposium Explores the Definition of Muslim Identity

Business Wire, April 4, 2007

WASHINGTON -- What does being a Muslim mean in America? How does it inform who you are, what you think, what you do? For the faithful, does Islam dictate and define a moral compass, a political agenda, a spiritual journey or is it a culture apart from the American experience? On Thursday, April 19, 2007, 4:00 -5:30 pm, at Georgetown University's Copley Hall Formal Lounge in Washington, DC, a distinguished panel of journalists, religious scholars, and a Muslim rock star will explore and debate how being a Muslim can complement or conflict with the American way of life.

"What It Means To Be Muslim in America" is a symposium co-sponsored by The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University and On Faith, the global interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. (http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith)

The symposium panel features On Faith's Quinn and Meacham as well as panelists:

* Salman Ahmad, Pakistani born rock musician, founder, guitarist and composer for the wildly popular South Asian band, Junoon

* Imam Yahya Hendi, the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University, the Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick, and the Muslim Chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda

* Sherman A. Jackson, professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies and a professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

* Ingrid Mattson, President of Islamic Society of North America, Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations and, Director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut

* Hadia Mubarak, a senior researcher at Georgetown's Center for Muslim Christian Understanding and the first woman and first native-born American to be elected to lead the National Muslim Student Association since the 500-chapter organization was established in 1963.

* John L. Esposito, Georgetown University Professor of Religion and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding will moderate the panel.

This diverse panel will look at four distinct and potentially competing definitions of Muslim identity: Islam as a moral compass, a political agenda, a spiritual journey and a culture apart. The symposium at Georgetown University is yet another way On Faith encourages an intelligent and respectful conversation on religion and faith. As a global interactive online feature of washingtonpost.com and Newsweek.com, On Faith tackles one of the world's most pervasive yet least understood topics by offering varied perspectives and open dialogue. Each week the site's moderators, Sally Quinn of the Washington Post and Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham, post a question for On Faith's more than one hundred panelists of varying faiths from around the world. The result is a global multi-denominational conversation that readers can join by offering their own opinions and by posting comments and questions at any time including during live events like the Georgetown/On Faith symposium. Throughout the event, On Faith producer, David Waters, will blog in real time, sharing comments by the panelists and offering the panel questions from the online audience. After the event, pod casts and video downloads of the symposium will be available.

"Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. This panel offers a remarkable opportunity to learn about the role Islam plays in America from a religious and cultural perspective. Through On Faith we're using the unlimited resources of the online world to advance a global conversation that is both urgent and enlightening," said Quinn.

The symposium is presented by Washington Post Newsweek Interactive On Faith and The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University. The Berkley Center explores the intersection of religion with contemporary global challenges including relations among states and societies, global development, democracy and human rights and, culture and identity.

"When it comes to Islam and America, we are too often comfortable with preconceived notions. Georgetown/On Faith will help get behind the stereotypes -- giving us an opportunity to learn about Muslim life in America by listening to Muslins themselves." said Thomas Banchoff, Director of the Berkley Center.

The Georgetown/On Faith symposium is free and open to the public; however seating is limited and available on a first come basis. For additional information on the event visit On Faith at http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith.> To obtain press credentials for the event or schedule an interview with the symposium panelists, please contact Donna Sawyer at WPNI, donna.sawyer@wpni.com or call (703) 469-2965.

On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com.

Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive is the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). Its mission is to develop the company's editorial products and businesses on the Internet and across all electronic content delivery platforms. WPNI's flagship products include washingtonpost.com, Slate, Newsweek.com and BudgetTravelOnline.com. The company is headquartered in Arlington, VA.