A delegation of three Muslim professionals from Germany, who are visiting the US under the US Department of State International Visitor Program, visited IIIT on Wednesday, January 14, 2009. The topic of the three hour discussion was on the integration of Muslim immigrants into Western society, with a focus on the American Muslim community and Muslim immigrants to Germany.

 

The visitors included Ms. Emel Cyelan Rochdi, Teacher trainee and Graduate Assistant at the Interdisciplinary Center for Islamic Religious Education at the Freidrich-Alexander University; Ms. Honey Deihimi, Commissioner for Integration in Lower Saxony; and Ms. Emel Akbulut, Recruitment Officer for the Frankfurt Police.

 

Dr. Jamal Barzinji, Vice President of IIIT, briefed the group on the mission of IIIT, its vision and objectives, its current activities and future plans. He also presented the major features of the historical experiences of American Muslims, their unique characteristics as compared to Muslims in Europe and the institutional responses it developed within the American context particularly in the areas of education, civil and economic activities.

 

Dr. Iqbal Unus, Director of Administration of IIIT, elaborated on Islamic education in the US, and the implications of the separation of Church and State on Islamic schools, and how the Muslim community is responding to it.

 

Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad briefed the group on the mission of the Association of Muslim Social Scientist (AMSS) and his organization, the Minaret of Freedom Institute.

 

Dr. Abubaker Al-Shingieti, IIIT’s Regional Director in charge of research spoke about current research work and publications on the subject of Fiqh al Aqaliyyat, Maqasid al Shari’ah, and Islamic Studies in American Universities.

 

The group showed particular interest in IIIT’s scholarly work. They were also briefed by Jay Willoughby, Copy-Editor of AJISS – American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, on the Journal, its evolutions and its current emphasis.