MPAC TIMELINE
20 Years of Service to the Community
In the two decades since its inception, MPAC has worked diligently to foster a vibrant Muslim American identity and to represent the interests of Muslim Americans to decision makers in government agencies, media outlets, interfaith circles and Hollywood studios.
We provide a glimpse here of our efforts to improve the society in which we live for all Americans by attempting to lead an active, bright element of America's pluralism – Muslim Americans – into a life of service.
1986 - MPAC founded as the Political Action Committee of the Islamic Center of Southern California.
1988 - MPAC receives 501(c)3 status and is renamed Muslim Public Affairs Council.
September 1990 - USA Today publishes MPAC op-ed entitled "Middle East Dictators Don't Speak for Islam".
September 1990 - MPAC issues statement regarding the Gulf Crisis, condemning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and calling for U.S. withdrawal from the region.
1992 - Morgan Freeman presented with MPAC's Inaugeral Media Award for his role as "Azeem" (the Muslim Moor) in the film "Robin Hood".
June 1992 - MPAC Executive Director serves as co-director of Healing Los Angeles coalition following L.A. riots.
December 1993 - MPAC condemns "fatwa" against writer Salman Rushdie.
March 1995 - MPAC releases debut issue of "Counterterrorism Chronicle", a regular briefing providing an American Muslim perspective on national security issues.
April 1995 - MPAC condemns the bombing of Federal Building in Oklahoma and calls for thorough investigation.
August 1995 - MPAC board member Dr. Laila Al-Marayati joins the U.S. delegation to the United Nations conference on women in Beijing.
1997 - MPAC sponsors forum in Washington, DC examining the "Media Image of Muslims", featuring Ted Koppel.
June 1999 - Senate Minority Leader Richard Gephardt appoints Salam Al-Marayati to the National Commission on Terrorism at the request of then Congressman David Bonior. Gephardt's withdraws nomination, following intense pressure by pro-Israeli groups despite broad support from public officials and interfaith leaders (including Jewish groups). Major newspapers, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, publish editorials in support of Al-Marayati.
August 2000 – Dr. Maher Hathout delivers invocation at the Democratic National Convention.
2000 - MPAC presents Media Award to "Three Kings", a film exposing the true plight of the Iraqi people, featuring George Clooney, Ice Cube, and Mark Wahlberg.
October 2000 - MPAC denounces Taliban and condemns destruction of Buddhist holy sites
2001 - MPAC honors VH1 and Yusuf Islam for their primetime special "Cat Stevens: Behind the Music".
September 11, 2001 - MPAC condemns attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon
December 2001 - MPAC holds first annual national convention on "The Rising Voice of Moderate Muslims" in Long Beach, CA.
February 2002 - MPAC condemns murder of Daniel Pearl in Pakistan.
September 2002 - For first anniversary of 9/11 attacks, MPAC volunteers hand sew the names of all the victims of 9-11 on quilt, which was flown to New York City in time for the commemoration ceremony.
November 2002 - Salam Al-Marayati testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the shutting down of three major Muslim charities. Hearing entitled, "An Assessment of Tools needed to Fight the Financing of Terrorism".
January 2003 - MPAC organizes "INS Monitors Program" with support from interfaith and civil rights groups to serve as observers, document irregularities, and provide resources to Arab males' from 22 nations required to register with the INS.
March 2003 - MPAC opposes U.S. war on Iraq.
August 2003 – MPAC organizes coalition of religious and civil rights groups to call on President Bush to withdraw his nomination of infamous Islamophobe Daniel Pipes to the U.S. Institute of Peace. National campaign results in Pipes being given a backdoor 1-year appointment instead of full three-year term.
March 2004 - MPAC condemns Madrid terror attacks and anti-Shia attacks in Iraq.
May 2004 - MPAC launches National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism, which is endorsed by ISNA and over 600 mosques around the country.
August 2004 - Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) reads from testimony he requested from MPAC critiquing the 9/11 Commission's Recommendations on public diplomacy in the Muslim world.
December 2004 – MPAC releases "Counterproductive Counterterrorism: How Anti-Islamic Rhetoric is Impeding America's Homeland Security", an examination of the negative impact of Islamophobes on fighting terrorism during its 4th annual convention on "Countering Religious & Political Extremism."
July 2005 – MPAC condemns London terror attacks, supports U.S. fatwa against terrorism.
September 2005 – MPAC raises $25,000 for Hurricane Katrina survivors with disabilities.
November 2005 – MPAC releases groundbreaking study on attitudes of Muslim American youth, entitled "Muslim, American, or Both: A Survey of Young American Muslims Post-London Attacks".
December 2005 – MPAC's 5th annual convention tackles theme of "Examining Our Role in America", featuring keynote speakers Ambassador Joe Wilson and Tariq Ramadan.
March 2006 – MPAC holds first annual "American Muslim Policy Forum" in Chicago in cooperation with the Islamic Society of North America.
April 2006 – MPAC rejects Bin Laden's call for "global war".
July 2006 – MPAC forms interfaith coalition to oppose Israeli war on Lebanon, holds interfaith vigil and organizes meetings with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).
October 2006 – Senior Advisor Dr. Maher Hathout presented with John Allen Buggs Award in Human Relations by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, following intense character assassination campaign by rightwing pro-Israel groups.
October 2006 – MPAC presents inaugural "Human Security Award" to Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
December 2006 – MPAC holds 6th annual convention on "Reform, Renewal and Relevance", featuring acclaimed journalists Robert Fisk and Amy Goodman.
March 2007 – MPAC and the Progressive Jewish Alliance launch "NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change", a year-long fellowship for young Muslim and Jewish professionals aimed at increased mutual understanding and enhanced civic engagement on local issues.
April 2007 – MPAC convenes historic meeting of Sunni and Shia Muslim leaders which leads to creation of "Intrafaith Code of Honor".
April 2007 – MPAC Executive Director visits Guantanamo Bay detention facility, provides critique of mental health of detainees to Pentagon officials.
April 2007 - MPAC launches Hollywood Bureau to conduct proactive outreach to film and tv studios, to serve as resource in developing multi-dimensional portrayals of Islam and Muslims, and create inroads for aspiring Muslim artists.
June 2007 – MPAC releases special report entitled "The Impact of 9/11 on Muslim American Young People: Forming National and Religious Identity in the Age of Terrorism and Islamophobia" at a Capitol Hill forum co-sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance.
July 2007 – MPAC holds historic National Muslim American Youth Summit, which brings 27 college student leaders from 12 states to Washington, DC to network, enhance their commitment to civic engagement, and meet with government and Congressional leaders on issues of concern.
August 2007 – MPAC becomes consultant on new CW show "Aliens in America", which features a positive portrayal of a Muslim character on network television. MPAC hosts special screening of the show with the co-creators and a Muslim American audience.
October 2007 – MPAC releases "6 Tips for Tackling Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" which provides tools for student groups to effect confront university assault on Muslim students.
