MAS Freedom Executive Director Invited to Address U.S.-Islamic World Forum

2/17/2006 12:24:00 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Executive Director Mahdi Bray will participate in the 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar.

The Forum is a global leaders' conference hosted by the Brookings Project on U.S. Policy towards the Islamic world in conjunction with the Government of the State of Qatar.

More than 150 top American and Muslim world leaders, whose backgrounds range from government ministers and CEOs, to journalists and scientists, to religious leaders and rock music stars, will be joining the event. Among the range of confirmed attendees are:

-- Political leaders: Five current or former Muslim heads of state, six current or former foreign ministers, the secretary general of the OIC, the U.S. undersecretary for public diplomacy, and more than 20 key political leaders or advisors.

-- Religious leaders: 12 religious leaders from around the world, ranging from imams to evangelical Christian leaders.

-- Journalist leaders: editors or key reporters from 20 media outlets, ranging from the Washington Post (US) and the Asian Age (India), to Al Ahram (Egypt) and MTV (US).

-- Business leaders: leaders from 21 businesses and development organizations.

-- Science leaders: 12 of the top U.S. and Muslim world scientists and technology leaders.

-- Academic leaders: 21 universities are represented so far, ranging from Harvard University to the College of Humanities and Jurisprudence in Najaf.

This year's Forum also welcomes as partner the International Youth Foundation in hosting the Youth and Development Task Force, a component of the wider Forum. The Task Force will address both the challenges and linkages of education reform, workforce development and economic progress in the Islamic world.

Bray hopes to focus on the importance of using the American Muslim community as a viable and strategic bridge to understanding and interacting with the Muslim world.