Interfaith group takes on 'Islamophobia'

By: NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | Saturday, February 24, 2007 11:45 PM PST ∞

TEMECULA ---- When U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison was sworn in as the first Muslim member of Congress in January, the Minnesota Democrat took his oath of office on a copy of the Quran that had belonged to the author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson, considered one of the nation's more profound thinkers of his time, recognized there was strength in religious diversity and tolerance. The Southwest Riverside County Interfaith Council hopes to embrace Jefferson's idea of religious understanding.

The Interfaith Council, which represents 17 Temecula Valley area churches, temples and mosques, is promoting a movement to quell misconceptions people have of Muslims and about the Islamic faith. The council aims to highlight the similarities between creeds and how all groups can live and work together.

"This campaign is just a tool to break down the wall of 'Islamophobia,' but we can't do it alone," said Tarek Ayoub of Temecula, who is working with the Interfaith Council. "We need the help of our brothers and sisters of other faiths to communicate the message of understanding with their congregations."

The Interfaith Council is a body of faith-based community representatives who have joined together ---- according to the group's mission statement ---- to acknowledge the God-given dignity and equality of all people, to share a respect and compassion for all and to be a collective spiritual voice for human rights and justice.

"Tolerance means that we coexist peacefully," said Larry Slusser, an Interfaith Council member representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Temecula. "We need to go beyond tolerance to acceptance. This means accepting cultures and religion that differ from our own."

To help promote the message of commonalities among faiths, an informative Web site, www.muslimbridges.org, was launched Friday. The site offers articles and links to information about Islam and how it relates to other religions.

"My heart breaks when I hear people speak ignorantly and even hatefully about one of the world's great religions," said Pat Proud, an Interfaith member representing the Fallbrook Presbyterian Church. "Recently a friend asked me, 'Where are the good Muslims? Why don't they speak out more?' Now I can direct people to this wonderful Web site."

Muslimbridges.org is a nonprofit faith-based California corporation operated 100 percent by volunteers. The group does not accept donations. Instead, the mission of the group is to spread peace and build bridges between faiths. The site does not promote special events; instead, it encourages people to live each day without prejudice.

"The first step is to recognize our challenge," said Mahmoud Harmoush, of the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley and an Interfaith Council member. "Muslims are not the first to go through this. Look at the African-American struggle, which lasted for centuries and is not completely out of the woods. God-willing, American Muslims will eventually cross that bridge as well."

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.

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