CAIR: 100,000 American Leaders to Receive Free Qurans

'Share the Quran' campaign prompted by president's address to Muslims

WASHINGTON, June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Islamic
civil rights and advocacy organization today announced that it intends to
distribute free copies of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, to 100,000 local,
state and national leaders.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the
"Share the Quran" campaign, which is designed to enhance understanding of
Islam by opinion leaders and policymakers nationwide, was prompted by
President Obama's recent address to the Muslim world in which he quoted from
the holy text.

SEE: Share the Quran
http://www.explorethequran.com/

A correlation between increasing knowledge of Islam and decreasing anti-Muslim
prejudice also provided motivation for CAIR's new initiative. According to
CAIR public opinion surveys, only two percent of Americans say they are "very
knowledgeable" about Islam, and almost 60 percent say they are "not very
knowledgeable" or "not at all knowledgeable" about the faith.

The new educational effort is phase two of CAIR's successful "Explore the
Quran" campaign in which tens of thousands of Americans of all faiths
requested and received Qurans.

CAIR is asking American Muslims to sponsor the distribution of the Qurans to
governors, state attorney generals, educators, law enforcement officials,
state and national legislators, local elected and public officials, media
professionals, and other local or national leaders who shape public opinion or
determine policy.

One of the sponsors will be selected to send a gift Quran to President Obama.
That selection will be made at CAIR's booth at the national convention of the
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) on July 5th in Washington, D.C.
(www.isna.net)

"The long-term goal of the campaign is to put one million Qurans in the hands
of ordinary Americans of all faiths over the next ten years," said CAIR
National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

He said "Share the Quran" materials will be made available to Islamic centers
and mosques nationwide for distribution at events such as open houses or
public Ramadan fast-breaking meals.

The high-quality volumes of the Quran distributed in CAIR's "Share the Quran"
campaign are published by the Book Foundation (http://www.thebook.org/). They
contain the original Arabic script, an English translation by Muhammad Asad,
transliteration of the Arabic text, and notes on individual verses.

[American leaders wishing to request a sponsored Quran and American Muslims
wishing to sponsor one or more Qurans should visit CAIR's "Share the Quran"
web site http://www.explorethequran.com/]

"By quoting from the Quran in his Cairo address, President Obama generated
renewed interest in what Islam's revealed text has to say on topics such as
the sanctity of human life, justice and diversity," said Awad. "This is not an
effort to proselytize, but is instead intended to provide an educational
resource for those who will shape the future direction of our nation."

Awad said the Qurans sponsored by Muslims and delivered to American leaders
will include a bookmark guide to the verses cited by the president and to
references related to topics such as women's rights, social justice, respect
for other faiths, and similar issues related to international events.

He added that the "Share the Quran" campaign is part of CAIR's celebration of
its 15th anniversary. CAIR was founded in June of 1994.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, has
35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787,
202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina
Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, +1-202-488-8787,
+1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, or Amina Rubin, CAIR Communications
Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787, +1-202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com