CHICAGO, August 30 (IslamOnline.net) - With a recitation from the holy Qur'an, leading officials of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) inaugurated the organization’s 40^th annual convention, held in Chicago, IL over the Labor-Day weekend.

Against an oversized banner showing the logo marking the event and decorated with Islamic Calligraphy, Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah, current President of ISNA welcomed the participants who came from different U.S. states and Canada, to the convention that will focus on the Tazkiya (recommendation) of the Islamic values into the daily life of all North American Muslims.

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, the dynamic Secretary General of the organization, stated that this celebration testifies to the cultural and intellectual diversity nurtured in the American society.

“The Islamic project in America is - in part - due to America’s commitment to diversity,” he told the audience.

Several dignitaries, Muslims and non-Muslims, many of whom were taking part in the actual program of the four day convention, made their way to the podium to thank the organization for all the work that has been done over the past forty years in spreading a moderate and undistorted message of Islam, while others expressed appreciation for presenting this educational venue that will enable them to get a closer look at Islam and better understand Muslims.

Dr. Louay Safi, President of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists and Dr. ElSayed Orady, President of Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers, each introduced their organizations separately and encouraged the audience to attend sessions of their annual conferences, which are part of the ISNA program.

Kareem Irfan, President of the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago and the local host of the Convention welcomed all participants to Chicago and reaffirmed the Council’s dedication of the same principles adopted by ISNA in fostering the tolerant and compassionate values of mainstream Islam in North America.

Following the Inauguration, a press conference was held that included Dr. Sayyid Syeed, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, the Vice-president of ISNA, Kareem Irfan and Dr. Bob Edgar, Secretary General of the National Council of Churches.

Irfan stated that the ISNA convention showcases mainstream Islam in America, and added that the four day event is a multi-faceted one as it is an educational opportunity for Muslims and non-Muslims as well.

Dr. Syeed affirmed this by calling an open invitation to all press members to become embedded journalists for four days, to get a closer look at the lives of Muslims families and individuals.

Syeed also said that following 9/11 there was a great interest in knowing Islam by non-Muslims and there was an even greater interest from within the Muslim community towards a better knowledge of their own faith.

“We experienced something unique in the past year,” Syeed said referring to the increasing rate of participation to many of the organization’s activities in even the smaller scale regional conference held in Missouri, New York, and Texas in the past year.

“In Missouri, the participation to our regional conference which was usually at 600 hundred has jumped to 1500 participants,” he said.

Dr. Ingrid Matteson affirmed that this year’s convention opens the door to the exchange of different ideas, and that ISNA - as an umbrella organization - provides an opportunity to show the community’s cultural, ethnic and intellectual diversity.

“We believe America is the best market place of ideas, so not necessarily all ideas in the bazaar have our stamp of approval,” Matteson said.

She also added that despite the diversity clearly shown in garments fashion of the participants, the majority of those participants are born and raised in the U.S.

Bob Edgar, spoke of the importance of common religious respect towards, the other.

Irfan, President of the Council of Islamic organization of greater Chicago, addresses the attendees

“One of the center pieces of America is religious respect,” Edgar said, adding that the time has come for the religious leaders to speak out against hate speech and discrimination.

Under Edgar’s presidency, the Council of Churches has come out against many of the hate speeches directed by extremist Christian right figures like Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwel whose statements included broad insults to Islam and Prophet Mohammed. He also held a clear stand against the war on Iraq.

He added that this ISNA convention is a beginning for respect and cooperation between people of all faiths. “I believe our partnership and collaboration, respect towards Christianity or Islam should be marked today,” he said.

He further affirmed that it was time America fights against racial discrimination as more Arabs and Muslims are being targeted following 9/11. He added that similar efforts like those directed towards ending the lack of understanding between Catholics and Protestants, and Jews and Christians in the 1950s, should be now focused on ending any discrimination against Arabs or Muslims.

Commenting on the biggest challenge facing Muslims in North America, Irfan stated that dispelling misperception about Islam and its message, he added this could only be met through the umbrella organizations representing mainstream Islam.

Dr. Matteson, on the other hand, stated that it is too early to say that safety and security of U.S. Muslims is not another major challenge, especially given the unstable international situation and the volatility of many spots populated by Muslims around the globe.

When asked by IslamOnline.net, why there has been no emphasis on women’s issues within the over 50 sessions of the conference despite the increasing role of women within the organization, Matteson answered, “every issue is a women’s issue,” and added, “ I don’t think we need to mark one program for women and another one for men, and that’s the goal that we work together.”

The CIOGC is also committed to a strong partnership within the community, added Irfan stating that the CIOGC is also committed to representing mainstream Islam. He also stated that the council considers women to be integrated within the fabric of the society and that many of the active committees of the CIOGC are being headed by women who are capable and dynamic.

“We work on making sure that every one is treated on par according to the principles of Islam of equality and compassion,” Irfan said.