Convention
promotes Islamic civil rights
By
May Ahmad
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Saudi Student Club in Southern California
held a convention at the University Student
Union Saturday in an attempt to unite the
Muslim community, said Hamad Al-Badr, biomedical
engineering graduate student and president
of the club.
"Muslims
in America: Reality and Challenges"
was a free public event. It was supported
by Masjd Al Ansar, the Islamic Society of
Orange County, the Shura Council of Southern
California and the Islamic Center of Long
Beach, among other sponsors.
The convention consisted of two separate
conferences, one for adults and the other
for younger Muslims. Both conferences were
held by prominent Islamic figures and Sheiks
who preached about the need for Muslims
to assemble to better serve themselves and
the community as a whole.
"I
think our community needs to get together,"
said Al-Badr, who is also the general manager
of the Islamic Center on Long Beach. "We
are trying to help the community to be more
effective."
Orange
County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas
was among the speakers in a session about
the civil rights of Muslims. Rackauckas
discussed the rights of Muslims in the community
and answered questions about the situation
the Muslim community remains in after almost
two years since the events of Sept. 11.
"I
think we have a balance to strike,"
Rackauckas said. "We need to look out
for our security without sacrificing our
civil rights. I have a lot of friends from
Muslim countries; this group of people is
as patriotic as any other."
Omar
Zaki, director of governmental relations
for the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
also spoke out against the mistreatment
of the Muslim community since Sept. 11.
"My
intention was to get people thinking about
what is happening in their surroundings,
what is happening with crime legislation,
with the current counter-terrorist legislation
and understand that they have rights,"
Zaki said.
"There
is still hate. The Americans think there
is violence in Islam," said Malika
Rouiah, a house-wife from Anaheim who attended
the event. "Meetings between Muslims
and non-Muslims can get rid of prejudice."
Among
the other sessions was one by Muzzamel Siddiqi
and Ahmed Sakr, who each have a doctorate
in religion, in which they discussed the
future of Muslims in America.
"We
have to be more serious about thinking about
ourselves, our plans," Siddiqi said.
"We should have a vision for the future."
Al-Badr
said that nearly 500 people attended, some
of whom were non-Muslims. About 25,000 fliers
were distributed at mosques and Islamic
centers and organizations in Long Beach
as well as many other cities, he said.
Dr.
Bassam Hadaya, a self-employed physician
from Lancaster, said that he heard about
the convention at a mosque and decided to
bring his whole family to attend it.
"It's
an excellent idea," Hadaya said. "Muslims
can work together and can learn from each
other."
"I
came to learn a little more about my religion,"
said Hind El-Arabi, a marketing major at
Cerritos College.
The
convention also held workshops for such
things as reading the holy Quran or even
solving family problems. There were also
several contests ranging from Arabic calligraphy
to Web design.
An
exhibit of books, clothes, accessories,
toys, gifts, advertisements and much more
took place right around the corner from
the conference room.
Mokhtar
Shawkey, a financial consultant, said he
volunteered to be a supportive speaker in
the sessions. He called on the audience
to keep on setting a good example of Islam.
"Show
America that or Muslim community is a good
community," he said. "Sooner or
later our rights will be recognized."
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