PRESS INFORMATION                                                                                          
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

CSID & American Muslim Council Send Letter to President on Dealing with Muslim World

On Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, the American Muslim Council (AMC) and the Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID) sent a letter (click here to see letter in PDF format) to President George W. Bush congratulating him on becoming the 43rd President of the United States and making some policy recommendations for improving relations with the Muslim World. Muslims have also noted with interest President Bush’s new policy on faith-based charities. 

The letter states that: "As Muslim Americans, along with those who study Islam’s role in the world, we want to work with you, and with your administration, to build a more diverse, united, and compassionate America, and to bridge the gap between the U.S. and the Muslim world." The policy recommendations were developed by a panel of 25 scholars and experts who met on January 12, for the purpose of developing a strategy for improving relations between the United States and the 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. 

The policy recommendations are related to democratization and economic development in the Muslim world, the Middle East peace process, economic sanctions on Iraq, relations with Iran and Libya, and the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir. The text of the letter was released to the media in a press conference on Monday, February 12, 2001 , National Press Club. Dr. Yahya Basha, President of AMC, and Prof. Ali Mazrui, Chair of the Board of CSID, and other board members were available to answer questions from the media. 

There are approximately six million Muslims in the United States and 74% of them voted for President Bush in the recent elections. Islam is the second largest religion in the world and the third largest in the United States and Europe. Muslim Americans are increasingly active on the political scene and want to have their voices heard in domestic as well as foreign policy issues. 

AMC's Board of Directors: 

For further information about AMC, please contact Mr. Aly Abuzaakouk, Executive Director, at 202-789-2262, or visit the AMC web site at: www.amconline.org.

CSID's Board of Directors:

Click here for further information on the CSID's Board of Directors. 

 © Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy, 2003.  All rights reserved.
Last update: 2004-08-31 | webmaster@islam-democracy.org

2121 K Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 942-2183
Fax: (202) 628-8189