http://today.uci.edu/news/media_advisory_detail.asp?key=255

NOTE TO EDITORS: Press will have the opportunity meet Ahmed and Pearl prior to the event. Press interested in attending, please contact Christine Byrd at (949) 824-9055 or cbyrd@uci.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

May 10, 2005

MEDIA ADVISORY

FATHER OF SLAIN JOURNALIST DANIEL PEARL JOINS ISLAMIC SCHOLAR AKBAR AHMED IN A DIALOGUE TO FOSTER MUSLIM-JEWISH UNDERSTANDING AND TOLERANCE

EVENT:
“The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding, Featuring Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl�

Judea Pearl, father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, and Akbar Ahmed, the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, are bringing to Irvine their personal and public dialogue, which has taken place in cities across the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. In an honest discussion about issues that divide Jewish and Muslim communities, the two will challenge extremists on both sides. Through the dialogue, Ahmed and Pearl hope to break down negative stereotypes, discourage the intolerance that leads to hatred and violence, and initiate an ongoing discussion within the community. Rusty Kennedy, executive director of the Orange County Human Relations Commission, will moderate the dialogue, which is sponsored by UC Irvine.

DATE:
Monday, May 16, 2005

TIME:
6:30 p.m., press opportunity with Ahmed and Pearl
7 p.m., public dialogue
9:30 p.m., reception and book signing

LOCATION:
Pre-event press opportunity in the Cross-Cultural Center
Dialogue in Crystal Cove Auditorium, Student Center
Reception in Cross-Cultural Center

BACKGROUND:
Judea Pearl is the father of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in 2002. After his son’s death, he formed the Daniel Pearl Foundation to foster a dialogue to address the causes of intolerance. Pearl is a professor of computer science and statistics at UCLA, and the co-author of “I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl.�

Akbar Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and professor of international relations at American University in Washington, D.C. The former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain, he is a leading authority on contemporary Islam and the author of numerous books, including most recently “Islam Under Siege: Living Dangerously in a Post-Honor World.�

“The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding� was created by Ahmed and Pearl out of shared concern about the deterioration of the relationships between the Muslim and the Jewish communities, and a shared belief that reconciliation of these two Abrahamic faiths is critical and can only be achieved through the re-establishment of respectful dialogue.

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Contact:
Christine Byrd
(949) 824-9055
cbyrd@uci.edu

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