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Video Highlights

What exactly is Imam Feisal doing on his trip to the Middle East? CNN's Randi Kaye reports. Watch video here
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's speech at Intersections. Watch video here
Mayor Bloomberg: "Dialogue Needs to Be Civil." Watch video here
NY Governor David Patterson: "Can't Force Center to Move." Watch video here
Family Member of 9/11 Victim Beautifully Explains Why The Intolerant Are Wrong. Watch video here

What's Right with Islam

Imam Feisal's book is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Mayor Bloomberg Discusses the Landmarks Preservation Commission Vote on 45-47 Park Place

See full text and video here.

Christian Support for the Cordoba House

Julie Clawson recently wrote a compelling article about the Cordoba House in Sojourners, the Christian publication founded by Jim Wallis. This represents just one example of the support we are receiving from the Christian American community. We appreciate the support, and embrace the interconnectivity of all faiths in America. You can read her article, titled, “Forgiveness, Fear, and the Mosque at Ground Zero,” HERE.

Jewish Support of Cordoba House in Washington Post

Joshua Stanton, from the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue, and Zeeshan Suhail of the Muslim Consultative Network, co-wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in support of the Cordoba House. It is titled “A Symbol of Progress in Lower Manhattan.” Read more HERE.

Downtown Express: “A Tradition of Tolerance: Welcoming Cordoba House”

Here is an op-ed from Downtown Express, the local paper in downtown Manhattan. “Speaking at last week’s Community Board 1 meeting on Cordoba House was both distressing and heartening. Distressing because too many voices were raised in anger, too many names were called…” Read More

Leaders Unite to Oppose Mark Williams’ Hateful Comments about the Cordoba House

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, State Senator Daniel L. Squadron, Council Member Margaret Chin, other elected officials, and community and religious leaders, today stood together outside the proposed location of the Cordoba House in a show of unity against the racist comments made by Tea Party Express Chairman Mark Williams. They were joined by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf of the Cordoba Initiative, Dhalia Mahmoud of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and representatives of Community Board 1.

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Don't Abandon Sudan: Difficult Elections Need Engagement, Not Withdrawal

By Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

The European Union's decision to pull election observers out of Darfur underscores the impression that the international community is increasingly writing off Sudan's elections, the first multiparty vote in 24 years, as beyond hope. While the EU decision and other pessimistic expressions by the international community are well intentioned, they send the wrong message to the Sudanese People.

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Strengthening Sudan's Elections: Constructive Approaches for Khartoum and International Organizations

By Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
Dateline: New York, April 5, 2010.

Elections are complicated things. This is true even in the most democratically experienced nations like the United States. The challenges are compounded in a nation like Sudan which has little electoral experience, is underdeveloped in many regions, and has a long history of conflict.

I recently announced that my organization, Cordoba Initiative, would embrace a role as facilitator for dialogue between the US and Sudan. I have made three trips to Sudan to meet with members of the Government, political parties, and civil society organizations, and have been invited to observe the upcoming April elections. These conversations have indeed underscored to me how Sudan's April vote represents risks as well as opportunities.

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Cordoba Initiative Announces Mission to Sudan During Historic Elections

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jonathan Black (phone: 512-466-0805; email: jonblackconsulting@gmail.com)

NEW YORK - The Cordoba Initiative (CI), a key bridge-builder between the Muslim world and the West, has announced it will deploy a special mission to Sudan during the nation's April elections to gather information and data and provide a unique perspective.

"Sudan's elections have the potential to transform Sudan and enable it to take a huge step forward," said Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, founder of CI. "But Sudan faces significant challenges as well. These are the nation's first multiparty elections in 24 years, many regions of the nation are underdeveloped, and there is a history of recent conflict."

[Read More]

The legality of caning Kartika

Art Harun discusses legal concerns that Malaysian authorities need to address in the aftermath of the sentencing of Kartika. Read the full story here.

Is six lashes for drinking beer a Quranic Injunction?

In a comment in The Star, a Malaysian publication, Imam Feisal comments on the sentencing of part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor, 32, to a RM5,000 fine and six lashes of the rotan for drinking beer. He suggests that Malaysian Syariah authorities should reconsider the law on consuming alcohol, which is described in the Quran in the mildest language of prohibition. Read the full story here.

Shariah Index will rate countries' Islamic law

In an interview with Rasha Elass, Imam Feisal discusses the Shariah Index, which seeks to address the relationship between religion and politics. The project, in the works since 2006 and announced by Imam Feisal on the final day of the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality conference in Malaysia (July 2009), will rate majority Muslim nations on how closely they adhere to the principles of Islam. Read the full story here.

Yes He Can! Insha’Aallah, Yes He Will!

Prior to President Barack Obama's trip to Cairo, S. Abdallah Schleifer talks of the enthusiam in Egypt, the likes of which hadn't been seen since President Nixon's visit in 1974. Read the full story here.

Tears and hard truths in Cairo

S Abdallah Schleifer of Al Jazeera offers thoughts on President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo. Read the full story here.

Roundtable Interview of President Obama in Cairo

The White House Office of the Press Secretary released a transcript of a roundtable interview of President Obama with regional reporters at Cairo University on June 4, 2009. Read the full transcript here.

'Not The Same America'

The day after President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo offering a "new beginning" in relations between the United States and the Muslim world, NEWSWEEK'S Christopher Dickey sat down with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Saud al-Faisal, to discuss the speech and its implications. Read the full article here.

Let nations speak peace

The Economist - June 4, 2009

A recent article in The Economist points out that the Obama administration can score some easy wins in improving ties between America and Islam. In the article, Daisy Khan predicts that a wave of second-generation Muslim-Americans will now enter politics, unlike their cautious, apolitical parents. In Obama's America, she thinks, the overseas ties of Muslims can help with civic diplomacy. Read the full article here.

"How Islamic Law Can Work"

The Washington Post - 23rd April, 2009

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf writes that "firebrand" Muslim clerics have been giving Shariah Law a negative image. He states that we need to reconsider what this law means, which is very close to the Declaration of Independence and are essentially God's commandments. 'The principles behind American secular law are similar to Shariah law - that we protect life, liberty and property, that we provide for the common welfare, that we maintain a certain amount of modesty.'

"Obama and the End of the 'Clash of Civilizations'"

The Huffington Post - April 20, 2009
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf highlights the importance of Obama’s recent speech in Turkey for building new bridges with the Muslim world. America, Imam Feisal says, should leverage its religious diversity for religious harmony, away from clashing civilizations. You can read the article here.

"End of the Clash of Civilizations"

The New York Times - April 11, 2009

In a recent editorial for the New York Times, a commentator marks and praises President Obama’s recent speech in Turkey, which signaled new positive attempts to re-connect with the Muslim world. Although challenges might arise with regard to ideology specifics, these steps remain important and encouraging. You can read article here.

"A Jihadist Worth Emulating"

The Washington Post - 2nd April, 2009

John W. Kiser and Michael L. Owens discuss the concept of Jihad and state that the actual meaning of this word is very different to what is portrayed by extremists. Read the article here.

"Afghan Law About Power, Not Culture"

The Metronews - April 2, 2009

Mona Eltahaway in the Canadian Metronews gives her opinion about Afghan President Hamid Karzai's new oppressive laws on women. Read her opinion piece here.

"Created from a Single Soul"

The Guaridan - March 27th, 2009

Shelina Zahra Janmohamed reacts to the debate of whether or not religion is good for women by explaining that the divine is gender-neutral and both men and women have been created from one soul. Read her article here.

"What the Middle East Can Learn from Southeast Asia"

Common Ground News Service - March 31, 2009

New CI contributor Samuel Rizk compares Middle Eastern diversity with pluralism in South Asia, saying that "Muslim-'other' encounters in Asia provide a much needed, but often ignored, model of pluralism." Read more...

Obama is the Right One to Address the Muslim World

Cordoba Initiative - March 31, 2009

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf dispels Obama's critics as the US President gets ready to speak to the Muslim World at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Istanbul. Click to read more...

"Palestinian Youth Perform for Holocaust Survivors"

Haaretz Newspaper - March 26, 2009

A Palestinian youth orchestra from the Jenin Refugee Camps performed for Holocaust survivors in Holon, Israel, as part of the annual “Good Deeds Day.” Amidst controversy, Strings of Freedom was disbanded and the conductor banned from Jenin. You can read the initial article here, and the follow-up here.

"A Quiet Revolution Grows in the Muslim World"

Time Magazine - March 19th, 2009

TIME Magazine presents the recent and emerging revolution that Muslim activists are creating in order to create a sense of modern Islamic identity that challenges traditional views. Read the full article here.

A Case for Sunni-Shia Dialogue

Cordoba Initiative - March 10, 2009

New CI contributor Marci Moberg writes that it's time for American Muslim leaders to initiate Sunni-Shi'a dialogue based on "shared societal and regional issues with the goal of developing a substantive action plan." Click to read...