NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma will host a panel of American Muslims from 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Regents Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union to discuss Islam in the United States and the New York Islamic Center controversy.
“There’s great anxiety in Oklahoma that Muslims may be trying to take over the country, and it seemed like a good time to have a debate,” said Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies and associate professor of Middle Eastern Studies at OU.
“My America, My Islam” is hosted by The Center for Middle East Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies Program at OU.
The panel will include Mona Eltahawy, an award-winning columnist who travels the world to speak about Islamic issues.
Landis said Eltahawy, the activist-in-residence this semester for the Women’s and Gender Studies’ Center for Social Justice, recently returned from Ground Zero, where she blogged and wrote articles about the controversy.
Also seated on the panel will be Mohammad Daadaoui, assistant professor of political science and Middle East studies at Oklahoma City University, and Malaka Elyazgi, chairwoman of the Ethnic American Advisory Council to Gov. Brad Henry.
Nanette Light 366-3541 nlight@normantranscript.com
