SEPT. 5, 2003
6:30 P.M.
National Press Club

Since Sept. 11, a debate has raged inside the Islamic world over exactly what the religion teaches. Moderate Muslims say Islam is a religion that cherishes peace and tolerance, but followers of Osama bin Laden say Islam also cherishes jihad and it's the duty of devout Muslims to fight the West by all means. Many American Muslims argue that Islamic Law is fully compatible with democracy; while others insist democracy is a Western concept that is alien to a government ruled by the law of Allah.

The National Press Club's forums committee and KARAMAH, Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, is sponsoring a panel discussion on "The Debate Within Islam After Sept. 11," featuring Dr. Azizah Al-Hibri, Muslim philosopher, jurist and author, as moderator. Louay M. Safi, president, the Association of Muslim Social Scientists and Director, Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy; Husain Haqqani, a leading journalist, diplomat, and former advisor to Pakistani prime minister, who is now a visiting scholar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Imam Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Association Freedom Forum. E.J. Dionne, co-chair of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, has also been invited to participat.