1	Religious Tolerance and Liberty in the Face of Terrorism: Unraveling Misconceptions about Islam September 30. 2003 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Warren V. Musser Auditorium Safeguard Scientifics Building
2	"Organizing subcommittee" Organizing subcommittee Roya Salehi Elayna McReynolds April Pumala
3	"Are Muslims violent," Are Muslims violent, terrorists, and/or extremists? Do Muslims worship a different God from that of Christians or Jews Does Islam oppress women? In this program we will answer these and other common misconceptions about Islam. We will learn about the basic beliefs and tenets of Islam. The discussion will focus on the experiences of American Muslims after 9/11.
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6	Panelist Bio Mr. Alex Kronemer is a frequent writer and lecturer on religion and Islamic civilization. He holds a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Harvard University, where his research dealt with the philosophy of religion and comparative religion. In 1996, he was awarded a Joseph J. Malone Fellowship for Middle East and Islamic Studies, for a study tour of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. A writer with many articles published in newspapers, journals, and anthologies, he served a one-year appointment in 1999-2000 as the Middle East Desk Officer in the Bureau of Human Rights in the U.S. State Department. He also served as a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. He has lectured and delivered keynote speeches on campuses and to foundations across the country. In April, 1998, Kronemer acted as a consultant and on-air commentator in Mecca for CNN-TV News, during its week of live-broadcast coverage on Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage. Recently, he has co-created and co-produced a movie called "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet”.
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8	Panelist Bio Dr. Mersedeh Moshfeghi is the president of Merko, Inc. – a company that provides continuing education for health care providers including pharmacists, nurses, and dietitians. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from University of Sciences and completed her pediatric residency at Cooper Hospital. A practicing Muslim, she lives with her three children and husband in PA.
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10	Panelist Bio Ms. Ludmila Zamah is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Aside from leading the university's Arabic conversation hour she teaches Arabic at Stern Hebrew High School. Ms. Zamah’s honors include receiving a summer fellowship at the Center for Arabic Study Abroad in Cairo (2000), being a finalist for the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Humanistic Studies (2001), and receiving the Janet Lee Stevens Award (2003) to design and present materials about Islam to high-school students. In her dissertation, she intends to illuminate Muslim attitudes towards Jews and Christians through analyzing the works of the Andalusian scholar, Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Qurtubi (d. 1273).
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12	"A recent study from Cornell..." A recent study from Cornell University in April 2002 reveals that there are 8 million Muslims in North America. Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in this country and around the world. Similar to Christians and Jews, Muslims believe in one unique and incomparable God. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets beginning with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus.
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15	"The Abrahamic faiths -- Islam" The Abrahamic faiths -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -- share the basic values necessary to create a world where tolerance and peace prevail. Muslim life and worship are structured around the Five Pillars of Islam—faith, prayer, helping the needy, fasting, and pilgrimage. They believe in the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions. Under Islamic law, women have always had the right to own property, receive an education and otherwise take part in community life. Men and women are to be respected equally. The basic principles of Islam like tolerance, justice, and devotion to family are a central part of their lives.
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