(MIAMI, FL, 11/7/06) - On November 12, the Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) and the Muslim Students at University of Miami will host a public event focusing on Hispanic Muslims in America.
Imam Benjamin Perez, President of CALMA (California Latino Medical Association), Imam Ali Siddiqui, noted peace and labor Activist and Mario Nunez, Director of CALMA, will discuss the trend of Hispanics converting to Islam.
"As the number of Hispanic Muslims grows, it is clear that the American Muslim community is more diverse than many people might imagine," said CAIR-FL Communications Director Melissa Matos.
WHAT: Forum on Hispanic Muslims
WHERE: University of Miami's University Center Flamingo Ballroom, 1252 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL
WHEN: On Sunday, November 12, 2006, from 5-8 p.m.
CONTACT: Melissa Matos, CAIR-FL Communications Director, 954-990-3644 melissa@cairfl.org; Rafael Alexander, 561-549-7440; Amir Abdelzaher, 786-853-9476
Muslim students put FBI and immigration officials on the hot seat Sunday at a taping in Queens of a well known Pakistani talk show. NY1 Criminal Justice reporter Solana Pyne was there as a panel answered questions about everything from FBI training to the success of the war on terror.
An unusual gathering even for a place as diverse as Queens, as a well known Pakistani talk show host taped a program to bring back home. "There is an important question, what is the outcome of this war on terror after five years,” asked talk-show host Hamid Mir.
A room full of students asked questions. “Are FBI agents or other government officials trained, or getting trained to learn more about Islam?” asked one student in attendance. Answering them was a member of parliament from the United Kingdom, a local imam, Muslim academics from both coasts, as well as the head of the New York office for Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, and an FBI special agent.
“FBI Agents can't all look like me,” said FBI special agent, Andrew Arena. “They can't all be white guys. We have got to diversify and that's very, very important. We train our agents from day one in the academy to understand the Muslim faith.”
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