Islam will be the topic of free discussions at the Port Angeles and Sequim libraries.
“Islam 101: Perceptions, Misconceptions and Context for the 21st Century” will be led by David Fenner, a lecturer with the 2015 Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau.
The first discussion will be 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., with the second at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.
They are sponsored by the Port Angeles Friends of the Library and the Friends of Sequim Library.
The discussions are open and inclusive, organizers said, and will address topics such as Mohammed and the Quran, and delve into the use and history of the hijab, a head scarf that covers the head and chest worn by conservative Muslim women.
Islam 101
For more than 1.3 billion people across the world and many in Washington state, Islam is not only their religion but also a way of life, organizers said.
During both discussions, Fenner will explore what it means to be Muslim in the modern world and common misconceptions about Islam, organizers said, adding that will promote “an atmosphere that encourages open dialogue while promoting greater understanding of the faith and its history.
Background
Fenner’s interest in Islam dates back to his experience as a young man when he traveled to the Near East to live in the Sultanate of Oman on the Arabian Peninsula for six years.
He retired from the University of Washington in 2007 as the assistant vice provost for international education, following a career that included establishing exchange programs with universities in Egypt, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Pakistan.
Fenner and his wife later returned to the Arabian Peninsula to found an educational center for Arab and Western students designed to explore faith, language, natural resources and diplomacy.
For more information, see the North Olympic Library System website at www.nols.org.
________
Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
