Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam
Past Event
The nearly seven million Muslims living in the United States represent an increasingly important part of American society. Yet relations between the U.S. and its Muslim community are strained. Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Akbar Ahmed conducted a cross-country study of the American Muslim community, recounted in his new book, Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam. The book examines questions of the acceptance of Muslims as truly “American,” and what being “American” means, as well as issues such as how Muslims in the United States relate to other religious communities. The book also explores the potential threat of increased “homegrown terrorism” like the attempted bombing of Times Square and the deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood.
On June 24, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the findings of the book and the experience of being Muslim in America. Following the presentation, Imam Mohamed Magid, vice president of the Islamic Society of North America, discussed Ahmed’s book and the crucial issues he raises. Fellow Stephen Grand, director of the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion.
After the program, the speakers took audience questions.
Agenda
Introduction and Moderator
Stephen R. Grand
Former Brookings Expert
Featured Speaker
Akbar Ahmed
Former Brookings Expert
Panelist
Imam Mohamed Magid
Executive Director, All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center
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[The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has] emboldened [the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban) and other terror groups.] The TTP has also been emboldened by a Pakistani state that has had a shaky, uncertain response to the group in the last couple of years. [A] sloppy policy toward terrorist groups has been more or less consistent across governments in Pakistan since the mid-2000s.