MOSTResource.org

Resources on Muslims for the Entertainment Industry

  • Story Bank
    • Business & Technology
    • Entertainment
    • Culture & Lifestyle
    • Medical
    • National
    • Faith
    • Sports
    • Women
    • World
  • Resources
    • Faces & Places
    • Statistics
    • Infographics
    • Research / Reports
    • Quick Takes
  • Perspectives
  • Events
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Parent Organization
    • Videos
  • Story Bank
  • Business & Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • Medical
  • National
  • Faith
  • Sports
  • Women
  • World
mostresource storybank video

Explored Our Story Bank Yet?

Our curated collection of thousands of stories has helped top Hollywood writers, producers, and creatives. Watch our brief video to learn more.

Faith, National — November 10, 2016   

American Muslims Offer Insight and Perspective On NorCal Panel

Original article by Peter Hegarty published in the East Bay Times on 10/27/2016

Photo Credit: East Bay Times
Photo Credit: East Bay Times

In Northern California, local Muslims were part of a panel discussion, a sort of 101 on the Muslim American experience, which took place at the College of Alameda. The panel served as an opportunity for Muslims to talk about their religion and answer questions from the audience, providing much needed perspective about Islamophobia and extremism, and most importantly, their faith.

Mindy Thomas, a law professor at St. Mary’s College who has studied Sharia law and was on the panel, says attacks on mosques and Muslims themselves have been on the rise since 9/11 and now with the global threat of ISIS, there is a clear backlash against the Muslim community, all stemming from a basic misunderstanding about the faith.

This misunderstanding has left college student Sohaib Jalal Sahraye, who hails from Afghanistan, frustrated. “It’s clear as crystal that [ISIS] are not Muslims,” Sahraye. “And they’re killing Muslims.” Mr. Sahraye offers another example of cultural misunderstanding citing that the definition of “jihad” actually means “struggling” or “striving,” representing an internal struggle to fully live out ones life via their faith. “That’s really the problem that we need to tackle,” says Professor Thomas. “We need to tackle that culture of ignorance and — forgive me — hate.”

Elham Chishty, a psychology professor at College of Alameda, says she hopes those who attended the forum can look beyond the often inflammatory headlines, and see the people on the panel as, well, people. “It’s really about engaging in a dialogue,” says the professor.

The event also screened Unity Productions Foundation’s short-film American Muslims: Fact Vs. Fiction .

Read more ...

Our Experts Are Here To Help

Want to start a conversation with our experts for help with your project?

Related Articles

  • M Film Lab Now Accepting Applications for Screenwriting Program
  • American Eid – Interview with Director Aqsa Altaf
  • Post vaccine, Muslim travelers are heading to… Israel

More From The Story Bank

Post vaccine, Muslim travelers...

Last year the Abraham Accords were signed between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. This marked a public normalization of relations not seen in decades. And with this new … [Read More...]

Meet the first Muslim head...

As new head coach for the New York Jets, Robert Saleh is making history as the first Muslim American to lead a team in the National Football League. The Lebanese American is also the third Arab … [Read More...]

Meet American’s Youngest...

According to The Hill, Bushra Amiwala "is part of a new generation stepping into politics." In 2019, she was elected to the Skokie Board of Education in Illinois, making this Pakistani-American … [Read More...]

Riz Ahmed Is Oscars’ First...

Riz Ahmed has become the first Muslim nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Academy Awards for Sound of Metal, not long after Mahershala Ali made his own history with two Best Supporting … [Read More...]

More Women Study Physics in...

A recent report from Physics magazine finds that physics departments in many western universities have a "significant gender disparity, with far fewer women than men taking up the subject." However, … [Read More...]

Enter your email to receive periodic updates

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy© 2002–2023 MOST ResourceMOST Resource globe


We use cookies to improve your browsing experience and to collect anonymous data to enable us to manage our website. Our Privacy Policy is a complete disclosure of our data collection policies, including the choices you have to control information we might collect. Your use of this site represents your consent to our Privacy Policy.