Symposium in New Haven Tuesday aims to educate about Muslim faith

Zahir Muhammad Mannan Zahir Muhammad Mannan Photo: Kathleen Schassler — New Haven Register Photo: Kathleen Schassler — New Haven Register Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Symposium in New Haven Tuesday aims to educate about Muslim faith 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN >> With an aim toward unity for Americans, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will hold an interfaith and interdisciplinary symposium Tuesday as part of a nationwide educational campaign to counter extremist narratives about Islam.

“True Islam & Patriotism,” an exhibition and interactive session, is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at New Haven City Hall, 165 Church St.

The symposium features members of the Department of Justice, the U.S. Congress, local leadership from Baitul Aman “House of Peace” Mosque in Meriden and other organizations that are fighting hatred, according to a release.

The campaign “actively counters the menace of extremism that has resulted from inconsistent Muslim leadership,” according to organizers.

More than 60 percent of “our fellow compatriots” do not know a Muslim, according to a release for the event sent by Zahir Muhammad Mannan, media spokesman.

The True Islam website offers the opportunity “to learn how true Islam enriches our great country” and to draw together others that seek to bridge the divide between some Americans and Muslims, organizers said.

Symposium guest speakers will include Mohammad Qureshi, president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and Zahir Muhammad Mannan, secretary of outreach and Holy Quran education and devotion.

In June 2016, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Meriden was awarded the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security and Major Crimes Unit Award by Connecticut U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and the Department of Justice “for the “courage, leadership, and tremendous generosity of spirit” under the leadership of Qureshi, “in an exemplary response of compassion to the shootings it’s Mosque sustained in November 2015,” according to the release.

For more information, call 1-800-949-4752, visit www.TrueIslam.com or email info@trueislam.com.