Islamic Institute and Yemen
Heritage & Research Center Hold a Panel on Challenges Facing Minorities
in the West
Washington,
DC- Today the Islamic Institute and the Yemen Heritage and Research Center
jointly held a luncheon/lecture on Capitol Hill. Dr. Sulayman Nyang, Professor
at Howard University, spoke on ‘Challenges Facing Muslim
Minorities in the West.”
Dr. Nyang said, “There are different
types of Muslims in America. There is one group who has totally assimilated
in this society and doesn’t practice Islam and then you have a group who
are culturally ill at ease.” He went on to say, “This group has counterparts
in both the Jewish and the Christian communities. Lastly, but also the majority, are those Muslims
who fall between these two groups.”
Dr.
Nyang talked about the different dimensions of the role of Muslims that
deserve the attention of policy makers as well as high-ranking officials
of the American society. He touched
upon numerous topics including political activism, institution-building
efforts by Muslims, and social and interpersonal relations between Muslims
and non-Muslims in America.
Abdulwahab Alkebsi, international affairs director of the Islamic Institute said, “Today’s event was a wonderful cooperation between two dedicated organizations. We congratulate the Yemen Heritage & Research Center on its inauguration in such a grand manner.”
This
event is part of a series of lectures by the Islamic Institute to discuss
different topics about Islam and the Muslim community in America. The program
was cosponsored by the Yemen Heritage & Research Center.
Tarek Alwazir, the executive director of the Center
said, “We are pleased to cosponsor this event and inaugurate our center.
We plan to continue and be involved with programs such as this in
the future.”
His
Excellency Ambassador of Malaysia; Dato Ghazzali Sheikh Abdul Khalid, Diplomats
representing the Egyptian; Lebanese; and Yemeni Embassies along with members
of the State Department, over 25 congressional staffers, and representatives
from other organizations attended the function.
