Third Annual Muslim Festival to be Held in Salt Lake

August 25, 2005

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2971367?rss

On August 25, 2005 The Salt Lake Tribune reported, "In hopes of educating people about Islam and the religion's followers, [Ghulam Hasnain, 59, of Salt Lake City] is organizing the third annual Salt Lake American Muslim Cultural Festival, which includes a public forum with journalists Saturday and ends with an outdoor event Sunday. Hasnain, who moved to the United States to attend college almost 40 years ago, says the festival gives him and other Muslims a chance to explain their faith. By getting Muslims and non-Muslims to discuss each other's beliefs, he hopes the event serves as a small step toward world peace... Not only does he hope the festival connects the Muslim and non-Muslim communities, but organizers say the event also is an opportunity to unite U.S. Muslims... There are roughly 25,000 Muslims statewide. About three years ago, Hasnain says he started the American-Muslim cultural organization in an effort to plan a festival and create a newsletter. The group, which includes people from different religions, also organizes community picnics and food drives throughout the year, Hasnain says. 'It's not just about being Muslims, we wanted to emphasize that we are American, too,' he says. For Katherine St. John, a Mormon and event organizer, the festival is a way for her to get involved in a culture she's grown to love."