Muslim and Jewish Leaders Co-Host Foreign Journalists
Muslim Observer, News Feature, Adil James, Posted: Jun 03, 2007
Editor's note: The publisher of a Muslim newspaper co-hosted a meeting between Muslim media and Jewish spokespersons to discuss similarities and differences between their respective traditions.
TROY, Mich. -- The Muslim Observer and the American Jewish Committee together hosted seven prominent journalists during their visit to America and the Detroit area from countries scattered across Asia May 21 in Troy.
The event was an opportunity for the journalists, who represent prominent news agencies in their own countries, to meet local American Muslim reporters and an opportunity for the American Jewish Committee to demystify Judaism for journalists, some of whom may never have been exposed to any aspect of Jewish culture or religious thought.
A few of the senior journalists were Abdul Latif Siregar, News Producer of TPI TV Jakarta, in Indonesia, Non Einai Mohammed Amin, a journalist from Utusan Melayu Berhad in Kuala Lumpur, and Ashraf Ali, a producer and reporter from BBC World Service in Peshawar, Pakistan. Also present were Mujahid Kakar, journalist and news manager for Tolo TV in Kabul, and S. Hussain Zaidi of Indian Express.
Photo by Adil James, The Muslim Observer
The journalists enjoyed a brief meal, then listened to an introduction to the Jewish community and religion by Sharona Shapiro, Secretary of the local AJC chapter. This was followed by an introduction to the work of The Muslim Observer by Dr. AS Nakadar.
Shapiro described the Jewish community as being highly organized and coordinated so as to defend itself against mistreatment.
She explained that despite some differences of opinion between Jews and Muslims, there are very important common interests which can be served by cooperation. For instance, she said, trespasses against the civil liberties of Muslims are in fact threatening to the civil rights of other minority groups, and could conceivably later become trespasses against the civil rights of Jews.
Dr. Nakadar, CEO and publisher of The Muslim Observer, explained that the very fact of the meeting being held in a Jewish home, co-hosted by Muslims, with practising Jews, Christians, and Muslims in attendance, where halal and kosher food was served, made the event a uniquely American one and showed the greatness of America. He emphasized the importance of religious tolerance, citing a quote by Imam Ghazali that the level of religious tolerance indicates the civility of a society, and explained the TMO mission of working across religious lines.
This 2007 Senior Journalists’ Seminar is the fourth such event. This year seven prominent South Asian journalists came to the United States, and seven prominent American journalists (from such news services as KQED in San Francisco, USA Today, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and other major news outlets) visited Asia (Hyderabad, India and Jakarta, Indonesia). The Asian journalists visited Washington, D.C., New York, and Detroit.
The journalists from each region first go to Honolulu where they meet each other. The American journalists then continue on to their Asian destinations as their Asian counterparts visit the mainland United States. After visiting powerful people in the host countries to learn more about how each country functions, the groups return to Honolulu to discuss with one another what they have learned from the trip.
The East-West Center is an educational and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Center serves as a hub for cooperative research, education, and dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Funding for the Center comes from the U.S. government, with additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and the governments of the region.
As a national and regional resource, the Center offers an interdisciplinary research program that examines major issues of critical importance in U.S.-Asia Pacific relations, dialogue and professional enrichment programs for the media, political and policy leaders, and educators, and educational programs to develop the human resources needed by the United States and the Asia Pacific region in a new era of increased interdependence.
Related Category
Media
Page
1 of 1
|
