Area Students Speak To Islamic Leaders Via Video Link

Area Students Speak To Islamic Leaders Via Video Link

by Reporter
NYC 1 News
February 20, 2006

Area college students were given the chance to speak to Islamic leaders about various topics, including controversial Danish cartoons, half way around the world Monday.

A special video conference was held at the Brookings Institute on the Upper East Side where students talked with leaders from Qatar, Egypt and Jordan on topics ranging from politics to religion to the future of foreign relations.

Students also spoke about the violent protests in the Muslim world over cartoons showing the Prophet Muhammad. They say there should be an open dialogue between Muslims here in the states and those around the world.

One student says, she's disappointed at the lack of reaction from her community.

"As a campus, as students-as college students, there was no really organized effort to voice our opinion. And, I'm really disappointed in that," she said.

"Obviously, faith is very important to them, so I think we just need to be very careful," said another student. "You know, freedom of speech certainly is a good thing, but there needs to be a certain amount of respect."

Students from Connecticut and Washington D.C. also took part in the video conference.

Several non profit groups sponsored and help moderate the discussions.