Civil Rights vs. Security
Debate in Washington
By Jerusha Ghazanfari
Washington, DC: Dr. Akbar S. Ahmed welcomed
Daniel Sutherland, Advisor to the US Department of Homeland
Security, and Khalid Hasan of Pakistan’s Daily Times
to the American University last week for a lively debate
over the issue of civil liberties versus security in post-9/11
America.
Mr. Hasan discussed the hardships, mistreatments and racial-profiling
that many Muslim-Americans have faced in society today due
to misconceptions and stereotypes often reinforced by the
American media. The Daily Times journalist spoke frankly
of his desire to see the DHS adopt a “kinder face”
towards Muslim Americans in the hope of eradicating the
“us versus them” mentality that many Muslims
have witnessed first-hand since the events of September
11.
While Mr. Sutherland admitted that the DHS was still a work
in progress, he politely disagreed with the “us versus
them” label by responding that all Americans desire
safety in their lives and, thus, are all in this current
situation together.
“It was a privilege to be part of an informed discussion
of these vital issues. The comments and, at times, criticisms
of Khalid Hasan, the distinguished journalist, and Dr. Akbar
Ahmed’s class, were very insightful,” Sutherland
said. “This type of open and substantive discussion
demonstrates the best of America and the best of academia.”
The thought-provoking event was but one of several exciting
events Dr. Ahmed has hosted this semester as part of his
popular class “Contemporary Islam and International
Relations” at the American University.
Dr. Ahmed’s goal in inviting distinguished speakers
such as Mr. Hasan and Mr. Sutherland to AU is to better
educate his students on the importance and consequences
of the civil rights issue in the post-9/11 world. “Civil
liberties, democracy and human rights are qualities that
separate the United States from everyone else,” Dr.
Ahmed said. “If we lose these then we risk losing
the ideals valued by so many Americans.” The Ibn Khaldun
Chair of Islamic Studies and professor of International
Relations at the American University, has been actively
involved in inter-faith dialogue for several years. He continues
to foster understanding between Islam and the West by inviting
distinguished guests such as Daniel Sutherland and Khalid
Hasan to speak to his classes. Eminent guest speakers this
fall have included Dr. Radwan Masmoudi of the Center for
the Study of Islam and Democracy, internationally-renowned
Pakistani Rockstar and UN Goodwill Ambassador Salman Ahmad,
Imam Muhammad Magid of the Adams Center, John Milewski from
C-SPAN’s “Close Up,” Dr. Nisar Chaudhry
of the Pakistan American League, American University’s
Chaplain Rabbi Kenneth Cohen and other leading scholars.
Future speakers include Mohammad Sadiq Khan, The Embassy
of Pakistan’s Deputy Chief of Mission as well as Mr.
Rafael Harpaz, Director of Public Affairs at the Embassy
of Israel.
The students were appreciative of the dialogue between Mr.
Sutherland and Mr. Hasan, as evidenced by their numerous
questions. “I found this discussion to be stimulating
as there were divergent views presented,” said Ryan
Pougiales, a senior in the School of International Service
program. “By juxtaposing them it allowed me to question
my own thoughts on the topic at hand.”
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