RIYADH - The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) is extending support to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a US-based organization, which has launched a media campaign by publishing advertisements in leading American newspapers and distributing books on Islam free of charge. The campaign is aimed at countering the growing anti-Islamic sentiment in the US.
Speaking to newsmen at WAMY's new office in Riyadh, Tuesday, Muhammad Bin Ali Al-Qotaibi, Editor-in-Chief of Future Magazine, a WAMY publication, said CAIR had already booked a quarter-page for every Friday of 52 weeks, in the 'USA Today'. The advertisement will commence in the 3rd week of Ramadan and will cost $1.04 million. A further project is a concise library consisting of 16 books and two video films on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The books are already available in leading bookstores in the US.
CAIR will also distribute free books and literature to all libraries in America, as a measure to educate Americans about Islam and remove misconceptions.
Nihad Awadh, the visiting CAIR President was scheduled to address a press conference, Tuesday, but because of his tight programme the conference was canceled.
Al-Qotaibi said Awadh had already met leading Saudi businessmen at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Tuesday, to brief them about the projects and raise funds. Among the top businessmen Awadh is scheduled to meet, is Prince Waleed Bin Talal.
He said CAIR was also planning the publication of advertisements in 10 other leading newspapers in America, "and that is why he is in the Kingdom seeking funds for the purpose."
Al-Qotaibi said the books on Islam and Islamic culture that are included in the concise library were by Muslim and non-Muslim authors. "One such book is 'Silence No More' by Paul Findley and the cost of each set of books is $150."
Referring to WAMY's activities he said WAMY had also launched a project to train 1,000 university students throughout America. "The basic aim of the project is to propagate Islam and remove misconceptions from the minds of students at different universities," he explained.
Al-Qotaibi said the training for the first of batch of 60 Muslim students had already started in Kansas City. "Gradually there will be a move to train Muslim students in other American cities. Around 40 students will be trained in Florida and 42 in Maryland."
He said WAMY had been distributing 840,000 packets of Iftaar in different mosques in Riyadh and around one million throughout the Kingdom. "Besides this free Iftaar was also distributed in 56 different countries of the world at a total cost of SR4 million," he added.
