Founded in 1988, MPAC is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans. [read more »]
Dear Friends, I would like to share with you some powerful news, which took place at a Senate hearing this morning, and involves you! Today, the Senate Homeland Security Committee held its first hearing into the question of whether the Ft. Hood attacks could have been prevented by military and law enforcement officials. Under an intense national spotlight, the Senate Homeland Security Committee ultimately recognized loudly and clearly the work of the American Muslim community to counter extremism and work for full integration.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held the first congressional hearing following the horrific attack at Fort Hood. The hearing, entitled “Fort Hood: A Preliminary Assessment,” looked to address whether the attack could have been prevented with greater information sharing between government agencies. But the coverage of the hearing, and the apparent objective by the committee's leadership, was to debate whether or not to invoke the label of "terrorism" in describing the Ft. Hood shooting. No one asked the U.S. Army Chief of Staff if that discussion will help or hurt his forces.
Yesterday, MPAC presented an educational briefing at the State Department based on our paper "Abusing Women, Abusing Islam: Re-Examining Sharia Court Rulings in Contemporary Times." The forum was co-sponsored by the Religion & Gobal Affairs Working Group and the Office of Global Women's Issues in the State Department. Over 40 individuals from multiple offices within the State Department and other government agencies joined the one-and-a-half-hour discussion.
In what was a welcome surprise to many, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg last week invited 10 local Muslim leaders to a private meeting to express his concern over the safety of Muslims in New York City following the Fort Hood attack. MPAC-NYC Board Chair Dalia Mahmoud was among those who attended the meeting at City Hall.
Last week, MPAC-NYC co-hosted the New York premiere of UPF's much-anticipated documentary, "Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think." A sold-out audience almost as diverse as the city itself gathered for the New York premiere of the film at the Scholastic Auditorium in Soho.
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