(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/14/2009) - Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today joined other world religious leaders at a conference in Vienna, Austria, in agreeing to establish an International Center for Inter-Religious Dialogue to help promote world peace and reconciliation.

The two-day conference, a follow-up meeting to an initiative launched last year by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, included representatives of Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and other world faiths and philosophies.

Conference delegates agreed to set up a working group and steering committee to offer concrete proposals for the establishment of the dialogue center.

“We look forward to the establishment of the International Center for Inter-Religious Dialogue and to the positive results that it, God willing, will offer to the world community,” said CAIR Board Chairman State Senator Larry Shaw (NC), who took part in the Vienna conference.

Other CAIR participants included National Executive Director Nihad Awad and National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

“This is a major step in carrying out King Abdullah's groundbr-eaking interfaith initiative,” said Awad.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
 
- END -
 
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

Return