NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, DC) – On Monday, M. Zuhdi Jasser, President and Chairman of the Board of American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) participated in an historic summit at the US Capitol. Jasser met with Heads of US Agencies, Members of Congress and congressional staff during an historic Moderate Muslim Summit organized by US Representative Sue Myrick (NC-09). The summit was a first of its kind because it assembled the largest group of diverse Muslims at the US Capitol to discuss issues and policy impacting Muslim communities and societies.

At the summit, Muslim leaders were able to meet with representatives from the State Department, USAID, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense in order to emphasize the importance of having a diverse Muslim voice when addressing Muslim communities and societies. They shared their thoughts and opinions on US foreign policy and aid, and how the US government can do a better job at reaching out and hearing from a more diverse group of Muslims rather than just the largest Muslim organizations that represent a minority opinion in the Muslim community.

“I’ve been working with AIFD on their projects and use them as a resource to help me,” said Rep. Myrick. “We set up this summit so I could introduce them to other Members of Congress and US agencies in hopes they will work with them on their projects and use them as a resource as well. The meetings were a great success, and I believe this summit was the first step to empower AIFD, as well as the other leaders present, in hopes that they will be a strong force in helping our government in combating radical Islamists and extremism”.

Leaders from the following organizations were also present at the summit:

• Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi- President World Organization for Resource Development and Education (WORDE)
• Farid Ghadry- President of the Reform Party of Syria
• Manda Zand Ervin the founder and director of the Alliance of Iranian Women
• Dr. Ali H. Alyami- Executive Director, The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia
• Omran Salman- Arab Reformists Project, ‘Aafaq (Arabic for “horizons”).
• Karim Bromund, Director of Inter-Religious Affairs for the Islamic Supreme Council of America

Dr Walid Phares, Senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and academic advisor to the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus, moderated the summit.

About the American Islamic Forum for Democracy

AIFD’s mission is to advocate for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution and demonstrate that the separation of mosque and state and the tenets of Liberty and Freedom are integral to the Muslim Faith. For more information on AIFD, please visit our website at http://www.aifdemocracy.org/