With all credit due to the connection initiated in February, 2011 by former CAIR-WA Outreach Coordinator Abigail Stahl, Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) contacted CAIR-Washington requesting an hour-long introduction to Islamic religious practices for their entire staff. Recognizing an increase in their Muslim clientele, ACRS reached out to CAIR-WA for education regarding religious practices, cultural practices/preferences common in different Muslim communities, and facts/myths about Islam and Muslims in order to better equip ACRS staff to engage sensitively with Muslim clients.
Click here to view photos from the event
Commencing the September 7th training, CAIR-WA's Executive Director, Arsalan Bukhari, discussed beliefs and practices of Islam including the five pillars, holidays, core beliefs, and demographics of Muslim communities in Washington. Domestic violence advocate and Refugee Women's Alliance staff member Risho Sapano also spoke at the training regarding myths about violence and women in Islam, and how to recognize help-seeking behaviors in the Muslim community. CAIR-WA Civil Rights Coordinator, Jennifer Gist, briefly noted the effects of discrimination on the Muslim community. To wrap up a fast-paced training, Arsalan and Risho discussed various facts and myths about Islam, including commonly misunderstood Arabic terms, the role of women, and issues of violence and profiling.
Training participants provided affirmative feedback, many expressing gratitude for a brief but thorough introduction to Islam, Muslims, and Islamic religious practices. One participant commented, "You taught me how to pay attention to cultural aspects that influence Muslim religion that differ depending on geography." Another person stated that, "The myths that I once believed [were] not what I thought [they were]." CAIR-WA hopes the whole staff at ACRS agrees with sentiment expressed by a particular individual, who responded to the question about what she would take with her from the training, by stating she would "be more sensitive to offering support to Muslim clients."
