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Group hopes to rid Muslim stereotypes

November 7, 2000

The members of the Muslim Student Association are aware of the stereotypes surrounding Islam.

And they hope education will help dispense some of those myths. The association has set up an information table in the International Center in honor of Islamic Awareness Week, which started Monday and lasts through Friday.

The event is recognized at universities across the nation. Salman Ateequi said it is designed to raise awareness about Islam and denounce certain stereotypes associated with the religion.

“There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes about Islam and we just want to clear those up,” the business sophomore said. “The most common one is that all Muslims are terrorists. But Islam is all about peace and submission to God. It’s not meant for harsh dealings with others.”

The association members answered questions and gave out pamphlets on aspects of Islam, ranging from the proper way to pray to the issue of women’s liberation. They also gave out white ribbons to support peace in the Middle East.

The association invited Sheik Omar Soubani to Erickson Hall for his speech “What is Islam and who is it for?” Monday night.

Fahmi Atwan, MSA president, said awareness week helps people broaden their horizons.

“This is also a good way to remember peace and to remain optimistic,” the computer and electrical engineering junior said of the conflict overseas between Israelis and Palestinians.

There will be information and education presentations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Wednesday and Friday at the International Center lobby and there will be a multicultural luncheon from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Erickson Hall. All events are free for everyone.

Ateequi said most students wanted to know about the basic beliefs of Islam or the role of women in an Islamic society - questions Shylon Smith is more than happy to answer.

Smith, the association’s treasurer, said many people confuse the religion of Islam with the cultures of the those who practice it.

“A lot of Americans get confused about the differences between the cultural aspects of Muslims and the religious aspects of Islam,” the anthropology graduate student said.

“Islam is a religion and a way of life - culture is not religion.”

Smith has also dealt with stereotypes about women in Islamic culture. She said people often think Islamic women don’t have equal rights.

“The truth is, women have a very high status in Islam,” she said. “They received rights of inheritance hundreds of years before European women had any rights.”

Another problem Smith says many American Muslims encounter is intolerance.

“I’ve had people come up to me and tell me I don’t know Jesus, and because I practice Islam I don’t know who Jesus is,” she said. “When the truth is I do.”

But the most common misconception may be what exactly Islamic beliefs are. Smith said many don’t realize how much Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common.

“The ideals of Islam are very similar to Judaism and Christianity because Islam is also one of the religions of Abraham,” Smith said. “We all believe in the same God. Muslims believe in all the prophets from Adam to Jesus and also in Mohammed - peace upon all of them.

“Jews believe in all the prophets except John the Baptist, Jesus and Mohammed. Christians believe in all the prophets except Mohammed, so you can see the chronology.”

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