There’s no denying that Muslims have a daunting public relations problem. In Arizona and America, many equate them with terrorism. Each time we publish articles about Islam, some are quick to blast us for promoting “agents of terrorism” and don’t miss the chance to note that it was Muslims who were implicated in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Anti-Muslim slurs are common in comments put at the end of articles we in the Tribune.
All too many people refuse to distinguish Muslims who simply want to live in peace and practice their religion and those who call for the destruction of Israel, the U.S. and the rest of the morally corrupted West. So in recent weeks came word of the high-profile effort of the group, “Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow,” whose purpose is “to mobilize a global Muslim movement for peace, justice and the common good.” They call themselves “300 young Muslim leaders from 75 countries” who are “setting the agenda for positive change.” They want to “push for change from within the global Muslim community.”
They say they are forward-thinking and community-based Muslim leaders who have come together to share “a wide-range of strategies and leadership styles to make tomorrow a day when Muslims are known around the world as people of peace.” In their press release, originating from Doha, Qatar, they say they will be proposing “innovative solutions to challenges facing Muslims globally,” including the crisis of religious authority, violent extremism, competing values and strained relations with the West.” During their coming together Jan. 16-18 in Qatar, they will sign a document, “An Open Letter to the World Leaders of Today from the Muslims Leaders of Tomorrow.” Example of leaders include a Pakistani madrasa reformer, a Dutch lawyer, an Italian imam and an American blogger.
They call the gathering a “marketplace of ideas” to showcase initiatives. They say it’ll be a mix of civil society leaders, religious leaders, social entrepreneurs, artists, philanthropists and more. Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow began in 2004 as a way “young, dynamic Muslims committed to creating positive social change” can create a platform to be change agents in the Muslim world. It is limited to those 40 and younger. They are marking their gathering to be concurrent with Barack Obama inauguration as president of the U.S.
Let’s see if the group can get legs and gain influence and credibility. Otherwise, this may be the last time we hear anything about them.
