July 29, 2014
Yesterday, CNN’s Belief Blog published an op-ed called “President Obama's Ramadan Slap at Muslims” by Salam Al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. The op-ed describes how the President’s pro-Israel remarks at the annual White House Iftar left guests and many American Muslims feeling “shocked and dismayed” and called it a talking point that “is code for whitewashing decades of atrocities committed against the people of Gaza.”
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READ MOREJuly 28, 2014
The Muslim Public Affairs Council wishes everyone a joyous Eid ul-Fitr at the conclusion of this blessed month of Ramadan. This Eid, we stand in solidarity with all who throughout Ramadan have faced atrocities, injustice and have been struggling for their freedom. Our hearts are with those who have faced bloodshed in Palestine, horrifying human rights violations in Syria, ongoing slaughter in Myanmar and all who are oppressed. -
READ MOREJuly 25, 2014
Let me tell you about a civil rights case we have been working on recently. At this moment, you might be thinking – “MPAC works on policy, not on civil rights, doesn’t it?” In reality, we leverage our government relations to directly defend and secure the rights of American Muslims, both to aid individuals and to shape policies that impact all of us. -
READ MOREJuly 25, 2014
The Bilal Islamic Center in south Los Angeles hosted MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati last weekend for a talk about the parallels between the Medina Constitution and the U.S. Constitution. The Medina Constitution is the social contract created between the Prophet Muhammad with leaders of other faith communities. -
READ MOREJuly 25, 2014
In the giving spirit of Ramadan, please invest in the emerging voices of American Muslim filmmakers, journalists and policymakers by donating to MPAC Foundation today. Your donation will be tax deductible and is Zakat eligible. -
READ MOREJuly 25, 2014
With her fiery passion for media and entertainment, Waffa Abu-Hajar was attracted to interning in the Hollywood Bureau at MPAC. She is currently entering her last year at Temple City High School and is hoping to attend the California State University of Fullerton to major in Broadcast Journalism. -
READ MOREJuly 24, 2014
This week, MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati joined "Tyrant" Executive Producer Howard Gordon and Muslims on Screen and Television (MOST) for a panel discussion with the Television Critics Association to explore the show's portrayal of the Middle East and the public's response. -
READ MOREJuly 22, 2014
Over 560 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli military aggression in Gaza in just three weeks, more than half of them in the past five days. Yesterday, President Barack Obama expressed “serious concerns” over civilian deaths in Gaza, dispatched Secretary of State John Kerry to Cairo to “push for an immediate cessation of hostilities” and announced $47 million in humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. Humanitarian aid is badly needed; so too is dealing with the roots of the conflict. Now that Kerry is in the region, what should he push for? -
READ MOREJuly 21, 2014
In an effort to halt the suffering of the people of Gaza, the Muslim Public Affairs Council encourages American Muslims to leverage the power of the last ten days of Ramadan by participating in the “10-10-100” Campaign, a national effort launched today to “create immediate and real change for the people of Gaza.” -
READ MOREJuly 19, 2014
After attending the Government Young Leaders Summit, we cannot stress enough how important it is for the Summit to continue to provide access and train young American Muslim leaders in how to effectively engage with our policy makers and advance the political condition of American Muslims. -
READ MOREJuly 19, 2014
Last week, more than 60 community leaders and young professionals joined MPAC at our L.A. office for our annual Community Iftar. Community leaders, alumni from our young leaders programs and young professionals from all over Southern California who have worked with MPAC in one way or another came togehter to see old friends and to make new ones. -
READ MOREJuly 19, 2014
This week, MPAC co-sponsored a discussion and book signing with Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) alongside Busboys and Poets and Crescent Moon Nights. Ellison shared his unique experience as the first American Muslim elected to Congress, through passages from his new book "My Country 'Tis of Thee: My Family, My Faith, Our Future.” -
READ MOREJuly 19, 2014
My aspirations for making the dreams of our future Muslim generations come true plays a large role in my field of work, community outreach. I hope to bring MPAC to different communities outside of Los Angeles in order to help them get involved in the kind of work that we do. I strongly believe that American Muslims must be at the table, lest they will be on the menu. In order to relieve the U.S. from the stereotypes and Islamophobia targeting Muslims, we must put ourselves in the nerve centers that make the major decisions for our communities. -
READ MOREJuly 19, 2014
Aisha Jama, a current senior at the University of Michigan, joined MPAC this summer as a government and policy intern in the Washington, DC office. With a double major in International Studies and Arabic, Aisha credits her involvement in student media organizations for prompting her move to DC to experience the crossroads of policy and media. -
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READ MOREJuly 18, 2014
For the last nine days, Israel has steadily increased its military aggression against Palestinians in Gaza. More than 260 Palestinians have been killed, with the United Nations reporting that 80 percent were civilians and 2,000 more have been injured. What has Congress’ response been to this bloodshed? Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee approved a defense spending bill that provides $621.6 million for Israeli missile defense, including a $351 million increase in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome system. -
READ MOREJuly 16, 2014
For the last nine days, innocent Palestinian civilians have been bombarded with an aggressive Israeli military campaign by land, sea and air, backed by U.S. political cover and financial support. MPAC calls on all people of conscience to speak up for Palestinians who have been treated as silent statistics instead of innocent human lives. Changing U.S. policy requires changing U.S. public opinion on the conflict. -
READ MOREJuly 15, 2014
Last night, the White House welcomed American Muslim leaders from across the nation and world for the annual White House Iftar. MPAC was appalled that the White House would take the Iftar as an opportunity to express unequivocal support for Israel. -
READ MOREJuly 14, 2014
In 1996, MPAC collaborated with diverse organizations to work with then First Lady Hillary Clinton to host the first White House Eid celebration in recognition of the heritage and contributions of American Muslims to the mosaic that makes up America. If mainstream American Muslims are not at the table, they will be replaced by voices who seek to further marginalize our community and promote problematic policies. This year, we plan to discuss the NSA and FBI surveillance of American Muslims and the administration's failure to call on Israel to halt its appalling assault on Palestinians. -
READ MOREJuly 11, 2014
These are exciting times for Muslims in Hollywood. If you're like us, then you enjoy sitting through the credits after a TV show or movie just to see if any Muslims were involved. In time this won't be a big deal, but growing up where there were only a handful of Muslim actors, directors, writers and producers I am amazed at how far we have come in an industry that seemed so inaccessible a decade ago. -
READ MOREJuly 10, 2014
Mariam Syed is currently entering in her final year of high school and has joined MPAC this summer as a Communications and Marketing Intern in our LA office. Mariam’s interests in international affairs and journalism have encouraged her to establish a more secure bond between American Muslims and the public as well as inspired her to take a more active role in her community.
