330 East Roosevelt Road, Suite G5, Lombard, IL 60148 - Ph.: 630.629.7490 – Fax: 630.629.7492
Contact: Farhan Younus, Phone: 630-926-5566, E-mail: fyounus@ciogc.org

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago - Sunday, August 3rd, 2003

40TH ANNUAL ISNA CONVENTION BRINGS THOUSANDS OF FAITHFUL MUSLIMS TO CHICAGO

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), a preeminent international Islamic organization, and its local host, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIO), an umbrella organization representing over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland, is pleased to announce the 40th Annual ISNA Convention. The theme of this year's convention is "Islam: Enduring Values for Daily Life". The convention will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, Illinois. From Friday, August 29, 2003 to Monday, September 1, 2003, Muslims will immerse themselves in the pursuit of Islamic knowledge through seminars presented by international Islamic experts and scholars.

Every year during the Labor Day weekend thousands of North American Muslims come to the ISNA convention to enrich their faith, celebrate their diverse Islamic identity, take advantage of the wealth of knowledge, enjoy great ethnic food and browse through the colorful bazaar.

The ISNA convention is recognized for providing an avenue for constructive dialogue involving social, religious, political and business issues. A notable group of Islamic scholars and prominent figures from a range of disciplines are scheduled to speak at the convention. The speakers include: Sheikh Muhammed Nur Abdullah, ISNA President and Director of the Islamic Foundation of Greater Missouri, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, ISNA Vice-President and professor of Islamic Studies at Hartford Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut, Hamza Yusuf, founder of the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, California, Siraj Wahhaj, Imam of Masjid Al-Taqwa, Brooklyn, New York, Jamal Badawi, professor at St. Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Abdul Hakim Jackson professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

One of the major events of the convention will be the Unity Banquet, scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. The banquet will be an opportunity for leaders of diverse religions, including the Muslim, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish communities to come together to renew their bonds and forge a path of unity for the future.

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We invite you to attend and cover this pre-eminent Islamic gathering, scheduled news conferences and interfaith events. Please note members of the media must register at the Media Registration Booth to enter the conference and attend events.

Advance media inquiries are suggested to facilitate press passes, pre-planning for coverage of news events and interviews at the Convention. Please contact: Farhan Younus at (630) 926-5566.

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