CAIR-Philadelphia

"One of the reasons we host our annual banquet is to inform the public on how CAIR works to eliminate bigotry and promote inclusion, equality and mutual understanding," says CAIR Outreach Director Rugiatu Conteh. "We plan to ‘Lead the Change' by example. We at CAIR disseminate authentic information on Muslims and the religion of Islam, and collaborate with many faith-based congregations in the Greater Philadelphia Area."

The Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations began what it calls a public awareness campaign Wednesday against the "World of Islam" books by Mason Crest Publishing.

A series of children's textbooks on Islam contains misleading and inflammatory rhetoric about the religion, inaccurately portraying its followers as inherently violent and deserving of suspicion, according to a Muslim civil liberties group. The Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations began what it calls a public awareness campaign Wednesday against the "World of Islam" books by Mason Crest Publishing.

Khawaja said the problem goes beyond isolated sentences to what he described as the series' overarching anti-Muslim tone and message. "A book isn't just a set of quotes — it's a conclusion you walk away with," Khawaja said. He noted that a chronology in the book "Islam in Europe" starts with 1988 and lists 10 events, seven of which involve extremist Muslims participating in bombings, hijackings or other violence. "This is ridiculous," said Khawaja, noting Muslims have been in Europe for hundreds of years.