ISNA President Opens Townhall Meeting on the Nation’s Security with John Brennan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, DC – February 16, 2010) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) facilitated a meeting with John Brennan, Assistant to the President on National Security for homeland security and counter terrorism. The meeting was intended to start a dialogue between government officials and Muslim American leaders to explore issues of national security, including the important role the Muslim American community plays to thwart security threats and improve the deteriorating relationships with Muslim countries. The meeting, organized by the White House under the title “A Dialogue on Our Nation’s Security,” was co-sponsored by the Islamic Center at New York University, the Islamic Law Students Association at NYU, and the White House Office of Public Engagement.

The dialogue was held on Saturday, February 13, 11 a.m., at the School of Law, New York University. Dr. Ingrid Mattson, ISNA president, delivered the opening remarks and welcomed Mr. Brennan. Dr. Mattson underscored the challenges terrorism poses to all of us in the United States, appreciated the efforts made by law enforcement agencies to protect all Americans including Muslims, and acknowledged the difficulties and concerns faced by the Muslim Americans in post 9/11. “The terrorist attacks of 9/11 shocked all of us,” she pointed out, “and left us feeling vulnerable, confused and angry.”

John Brennan affirmed the president’s commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of All Americans including Muslims. He emphasized the president’s message to Muslims, Arabs and Sikhs that American civil rights and American values must not be defined by violent extremists. Mr. Brennan acknowledged the importance of the Muslim community in fighting terrorism, recalled the important roles it played in thwarting a number of terrorist plots, and underscored the need for continuous cooperation in countering terrorism.

Muslim leaders assured Mr. Brennan of their support of the government’s efforts to protect the nation against security threats, and pointed out ongoing efforts by national Muslim organizations to counter the extremist narrative in the United States and beyond. They also expressed concerns about certain government policies that infringe on the civil liberties of Muslims and undermine the community’s ability to use its resources in positive ways.

These concerns were expressed in ISNA president’s statement, identifying several threats to the Muslim American identity and presence. These included “government actions that impinge on the freedom of [Muslim American] community to organize, to freely express our religious values and to engage in the lawful advocacy of our positions,” Dr. Mattson argued. “We need the freedom to build an ethical, productive community of faithful American Muslims – something we cannot do if we have to fritter away our resources defending ourselves against bogus charges,” she stressed.

Click here to read Dr. Mattson's statement.

Click here to view Dr. Mattson's and Mr. Brennan's presentations.

Contact:

Mohamed Elsanousi, Director Community Outreach
melsanousi@isna.net
202-544-6767