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About
the Muslim Public Affairs Council
The Muslim Public
Affairs Council is a public service agency working for the civil
rights of American Muslims, for the integration of Islam into
American pluralism, and for a positive, constructive relationship
between American Muslims and their representatives. MPAC was founded
in 1988 as a non-profit social welfare organization with a 501c(4)
tax status.
MPAC intends to build the American Muslim constituency and make this
body an influential component in US politics. MPAC is a non-partisan
body that works on all levels of the policy-making arena - local,
county, state, and national. It is not affiliated or attached to any
government agency.
MPAC aims to achieve a positive relationship with other groups in
order to promote values shared with Islam, which are based on
ethical principles, justice and equality, irrespective of race,
gender, color or creed. MPAC endeavors to make Islamic ethical
values available to the American political process. On account of
the leadership role America exercises in the world, MPAC is also
concerned with upholding these values in the international arena. What
does MPAC do?
MPAC organizes
special events frequently to promote the interaction between Muslims
and community leaders. Programs entail meetings with presidential
candidates, entertainers and local elected officials. MPAC also
sponsors regional meetings to determine the needs of its
constituents.
MPAC's main operations encompass media monitoring, contact with
legislators, decision-makers and cooperation with other religious
and ethnic organizations. What has MPAC
accomplished?
Delegate
Selection and National Political Conventions
- Organized the
Muslim community to attend political party assemblies and elect
delegates for the state and national conventions
- Encouraged
Democrats and Republicans to initiate a dialogue with Muslims
- Helped set up
hospitality suites at both Democratic and Republican state
conventions
- Expanded
research efforts and established MPAC as a critical resource for
decision-makers while developing substantial channels through
the media and public offices
Research
Position Papers Published
- Human Rights
Violations in the Occupied Territories
- Islam in
Central Asia
- Violence
against American Muslims
- Periodicals (Counterterrrorism
Chronicle, MPAC Action Alerts)
Media
- Editorials
printed in major news publications including The Los Angeles
Times, USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Orange County
Register, and The Los Angeles Daily News
- Ran television
ads across the country and placed ads (see right) to rally
support of Congress' vote to lift the arms embargo against
Bosnia
- Interviews
broadcast on Nightline, NBC, CNN, and C-SPAN
Lobbying
- In Washington,
at the US Congress and State Department, for human rights
- In Sacramento,
to correct misinformation about Islam
- At city halls,
to secure development of new community centers
Special Events
- Symposium on
"American International Interests and the Muslim
World" with Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Ambassador William
Sullivan and Ambassador Frederick Eilts
- Seminars with
nearly a dozen members of Congress on the political involvement
of the Muslim community
- Dinner
reception for Los Angeles Times political cartoonist, Paul
Conrad
- Entertainment
awards banquet for Morgan Freeman and the producers of
"Robin Hood", Spike Lee and the crew of "Malcolm
X", basketball player Hakeem Olaijowan, journalist Lindsay
Miller, and playwright Peter Sellars for portraying a positive
image of Islam
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