"A Mighty Heart"
Screening & Panel Discussion
a Success
Panelists Rev. Peter Laarman (Progressive
Christians Uniting), Rabbi Haim Beliak (JewsOnFirst),
and CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush discuss
how Mariane and Daniel Pearl’s message can be
promoted by various faith observers |
Anaheim, CA: About 300 people
of diverse faiths attended “A Mighty Heart” Screening
and Panel Discussion Thursday, June 21, hosted by the Council
on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area (CAIR-LA),
Progressive Christians Uniting (PCU) and Paramount Vantage.
The movie, which was released nationwide recently, portrays
the intense search for and subsequent horrific murder of Wall
Street Journal writer Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, through the
eyes of his wife Mariane Pearl.
Based on Mariane Pearl’s memoir, the movie was made
by “The Road to Guantanamo ” Director Michael
Winterbottom and stars Academy Award Winner Angelina Jolie
and Dan Futterman.
The evening was meant to celebrate Daniel Pearl’s commitment
to global truth and understanding. In a discussion following
the exclusive screening at Paramount Studios, four panelists
shared their thoughts behind Mariane Pearl’s vision
for peace and tolerance, and how that vision could be furthered
by people of faith -- Christians, Jews, Muslims, and those
of other beliefs.
"It is important to reiterate that Muslims all around
the world condemned the horrific murder of Daniel Pearl...and
it pains me to see that there are criminals out there who
misuse the name of Islam to justify violent acts against innocent
people," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush
before a packed theater. “We need to use this film and
the tragedy depicted in this film to spread the message that
we need more dialogue, and end the culture of violence, the
culture of bombs, the culture of occupation, the culture of
torture."
Reverend Peter Laarman, executive director of Progressive
Christians Uniting, agreed. “I think there is a need
for people to respond in real time to canards, to slurs and
to sweeping generalizations,” he said.
Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, a board member with Progressive Jewish
Alliance and co-founder of www.JewsOnFirst.org, also spoke
about increasing dialogue and bridge-building. “I want
to commend CAIR for the courage it took to undertake this
evening,” Belaik said.
The Pakistani Consul General based in Los Angeles, Syed Ibne
Abbas, attended the program. In a short speech, he intimated
to the audience that the murder of Daniel Pearl was unfortunate
and that the government of Pakistan tried to do everything
it could to save his life. “Some misguided people are
using the religion of Islam, a religion that believes in compassion
and peace,“ said the consul general. “I am not
a preacher but I can say with all confidence that, in the
Qur’an, it says, “Killing one innocent person
is tantamount to killing the whole humanity.””
CAIR-LA invited the Pearl family to join the event. They,
however, apologized due to their busy schedule.
To watch the entire panel discussion, go to http://youtube.com/profile?user=cairsocal.
For more information, please contact CAIR-LA Communications
Coordinator Munira Syeda at (714) 776-1847 or socal@cair.com.
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