ATTENTION: Assignment Editors, Calendar Editors

13 September 2002
Contact: Carol Hyman, Media Relations
(510) 643-7944

WHAT:
"Islam in America: Rights and Citizenship in a Post 9/11 World," a one- day conference co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley African-American Studies Department and The Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

WHEN:
9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18.

WHERE:
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Alumni House, UC Berkeley
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 2050 Valley Life Science Building, UC Berkeley

WHO:
Leading scholars of Islam and several prominent Muslim American leaders will speak on the impact of post- Sept. 11 developments on Muslims and Arabs in the United States. Speakers at the event will include:

* Dilnawaz Siddiqui, Department of Communications, University of Pennsylvania

* Robert Crane, Middle East Center for Law and Research, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

* Marc Ellis, professor of American and Jewish Studies; director, Center for American and Jewish Studies, Baylor University

* Omar Ahmed, Council on American-Islamic Relations

* Sami Al Arian, University of South Florida

A complete list of participants and a schedule of events can be found on the website of the UC Berkeley African American Studies Department.

BACKGROUND:
This conference will review and put into context what has happened to the Muslim community at home and abroad since Sept. 11, 2001, with particular attention to issues of human rights. Topics include: The situation of Islam and Muslim-Americans since 9/11; the nature of the post-9/11 world; Muslims and political action; cultural politics and the struggle over symbols and values; and effects of 9/11 on gender relations.

The conference organizer is Agha Saeed, president of the American Muslim Alliance and UC Berkeley visiting lecturer. The event is free and open to the public. For updated information, call Glenn Robertson at (510) 642-3899 or the American Muslim Alliance at (510) 252-9858.