Big draw for Muslim Women Speaking program at University of New Mexico in USA

Tuesday 19 Jan 2016 - 11:01 Makkah mean time-9-4-1437

A large and engaged audience asked a wide variety of questions during Sunday’s Muslim Women Speak event at UNM’s Student Union Building. Image from Albuquerque Journal.

Albuquerque city, US (IINA) - About 350 people attended a free event on Sunday at the University of New Mexico (UNM) student union building in Albuquerque city, New Mexico, during a Muslim Women Speaking program, Albuquerque Journal newspaper reported.
Hundreds of people attended a similar program in Santa Fe a week ago, and the group said they would like to put on other events around the state.
A panel of 10 Muslim women tackled questions submitted by the audience, in turn addressing questions of violence, customs, prayer, religious rules, political differences within the faith and the history of Islam.
The program was created by travel writer Judith Fein of Santa Fe to give people the chance to learn about Muslims first hand rather than by soaking up the often-derogatory rhetoric heard in America today.
Bob Johnson, 71, a retired high school history teacher, and Marilyn Schaedla, 76, who has devoted most of her life to volunteer programs of one kind or another, attended the UNM event.
“When you listen to each other and can have a mutual understanding, that helps us work together,” Schaedla said.
While he was a teacher in northern Indiana, Johnson taught Muslim culture in his world history classes and took his students to a mosque when they went on field trips to Chicago.
The women on the panel ranged in age from the mid-30s to late 70s. Some are foreign born, others were born in America. Some grew up in the Muslim faith, others converted. Some cover their heads, others don’t. All now live in New Mexico.
Sandra Akkad is a New Mexico native of Palestinian descent and adjunct instructor in UNM’s Peace Studies Department.
“Islam in no shape or form advocates violence,” Akkad told the crowd. “That is a fallacy. The Qur’an says God does not love the transgressor. If Mohammad (peace be upon him) saw ISIS today, his blood would boil. He would be angry. ISIS makes me angry, but the truth is a good way to channel your anger. You deal with it by working, doing and accomplishing.”
Kathy Ahghar, an assistant city attorney with the city of Albuquerque, converted to the Muslim faith after being introduced to it during her college studies.
“I don’t have a fear of what people can do to me,” she said. “I’m an American and I’m an attorney. I know what my rights are. Don’t tell me I can’t practice my religion. But there are Muslims who do not have that level of security and comfort. I’m here to be their voice.”
SM/IINA

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.