August 3, 2005

The oldest mosque in America announced today that it has endorsed MPAC's National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism. The campaign is bolstered by this endorsement, which represents significant progress in Muslim Americans' involvement in countering extremism.

Since its debut in May 2004, the National Grassroots campaign has been endorsed by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and won support from mosques nationwide. The campaign is a proactive community-led initiative to protect mosques, communities and the country. The campaign urges mosques to implement a set of mosques best-practices that focus on preventing the dissemination of extremist ideologies, amplifying the Quran's message of moderation, peaceful conflict resolution, and respect for all faith cultures. It also supports Mosques in developing ongoing relationships with interfaith groups and law enforcement officials.

As the first mosque in North America, the Mother Mosque of America has served the Cedar Rapids, IA, Muslim community since 1934. The small prairie-school building is now listed on both the Iowa State Historical Register and the National Register as an "essential piece of American religious history, which symbolizes tolerance and acceptance of Islam and Muslims in the United States."

"Terrorism is our common enemy and Muslims must be at the forefront of prevention. By educating our youth, our own communities and across faith cultures, we will together win the fight against violence and terrorism," said MPAC-Iowa Coordinator Shams Ghoneim. "Gaining support from the Mother Mosque of America is a symbol of the Muslim American community's proactive stance in preserving the security of all Americans."

Since its inception in 1988, MPAC has stressed the necessity of civic engagement, community involvement, and constructive partnerships with government, media, and interfaith organizations.

To find our more about the National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism, go to archive.mpac.org/atc. To schedule a Campaign training session in your mosque or Islamic center, please contact MPAC at 213-383-3443 or 202-547-7701 or email atc@mpac.org.