fyi:
Robert Spencer, Expert on Islam and Director of www.JihadWatch.org,
is scheduled to be on a four-person ALA Panel on Islam, Sunday, July
12, 9-11:30 a.m. . Some are trying hard to discredit and squelch
Spencer in the eyes of ALA members before he speaks.
Dear AJL Friends and other Ha'Safran Subscribers,
This coming Sunday at the upcoming ALA Conference, Robert Spencer,
expert on Islam, radio and talk show personality, and author of 8
best sellers and hundreds of articles about Islam and Director of
www.Jihadwatch.org, is a scheduled speaker at a four member panel,
entitled, "Perspectives on Islam: Beyond the Stereotypes." The
program takes place on Sunday, July 12, from 9-11:30 at the McCormick
Place Convention Center West, Room W-180.
Starting last night some who want desperately to discredit and
intimidate Robert Spencer in the eyes of ALA members before he
speaks by circulating an online petition/letter to "ALA and EMIERT"
objecting to ALA's having him as a speaker.
Robert Spencer has today responded on his website: See:
http://www..jihadwatch.org/archives/026853.php
If you will be staying in Chicago for ALA , please try to attend the
program, presented by the Ethnic and Multicultural Information
Exchange Round Table. If you know people who will be attending ALA
or others in Chicago who might be interested in attending please let
them know.
Also on Sunday, July 12 3:30-5:30 p.m., the Jewish Information
Committee planning meeting will take place at the Palmer House Hotel,
Logan Room. We cordially invite your participation in the Commitee.
Here are the Sunday morning speakers and their topics:
Dr. Marcia Hermansen, Director of the Islamic World Studies Program
and Professor in the Theology Department, Loyola University Chicago .
Topic: "Statistical Overview/Outlook of Muslim Populations in
America and Overview of Diverse Islamic Cultural/National Origins
Dr. Esmail Koushanpour, Emeritus professor, Northwestern University
Medical School inChicago , & Former Executive Director of the Islamic
Cultural Center of Greater Chicago. Topic: "Core Beliefs
Commonalities with Judaism and Christianity"
Robert Spencer, Columnist and author of 8 books on Islam and jihad,
including the New York Times bestsellers The Truth About Muhammad and
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades). Director
of the weblog, Jihad Watch, a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center .
Topic: "Jihad: What Muslims Say It Means"
Alia Ammar, Ph.D., Chief Neuropsychologist, Geriatric Care
Association & member of the Islamic Foundation North. Topic:
"Stereotypes and Realities of the African American Muslim Experience"
8:00 to 9:00 EMIERT Business Meeting
9:00-11:30 Islam Program
11:30-12:00 EMIERT Board Meeting
From,
Ellen Zyroff
Chair, Jewish Information Committee of EMIERT (and AJL member)
ezyr...@yahoo.com
Expanded Bios of the Speakers:
Dr. Marcia Hermansen is Director of the Islamic World Studies Program
and Professor in the Theology Department at Loyola University Chicago
where she teaches courses in Islamic Studies and the academic study
of religion. She received her Ph. D. from the University of Chicago
in Arabic and Islamic Studies. In the course of her research and
language training, she lived for extended periods in Egypt , Jordan ,
India , Iran , Turkey and Pakistan and she conducts research in
Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Urdu as well as the major European
languages. Her book, The Conclusive Argument from God, a study and
translation (from Arabic) of Shah Wali Allah of Delhi's, Hujjat Allah
al-Baligha was published in 1996. Dr. Hermansen has also contributed
numerous academic articles in the fields of Islamic Thought, Sufism,
Islam and Muslims in South Asia , Muslims in America , and Women in Islam.
Dr. Esmail Koushanpour is an Emeritus Professor, retired in 1999,
after serving 36 years as a faculty member at Northwestern University
Medical School . Born in Teheran , Iran , he received his college
degree from Columbia University ( New York City ) and his doctorate
degree from the University of Michigan ( Ann Arbor , Michigan ). He
was a Fulbright Scholar at Heidelberg University in 1983-84. He has
published two physiology textbooks about kidney function and over 80
scientific papers in medical journals.
He was appointed Executive Director of the Islamic Cultural Center,
Northbrook , Illinois , in 1999 shortly after retirement. He has
served on the Boards of the North Suburban YMCA, the Gilead Outreach
and Referral Center of Chicago, and the International Center for
Deafness and the Arts (ICODA), and on the administrative team of
United Power for Action and Justice. He was elected Vice-Chairman of
the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (2003) and
co-chaired the Catholic-Muslim dialogue committee. He received the
Bridge Builder Award from the Glenview Community Church and
