The Muslim Students Association kicked off Islamic Awareness Week by giving free food to students and answering questions about Islam.
Members of the association will be at Smith Plaza until Thursday, giving out free literature, Qurans and Middle Eastern refreshments.
The group is also holding panel discussions every day at 7:30 p.m. in the SUB and an open house at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday.
Alaa El Maoued, vice president of the association, said the association hopes to educate people about Islam.
"So much is portrayed in the media negatively and incorrectly, so we have this week-long event to actually clarify everything - clarify the misconceptions like terrorism and women in Islam," El Maoued said.
Ali Ahmed, an organizer, said he hopes the event provokes discussion.
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"Of course, you're always going to have the skeptics, people who doubt you and want to argue with you," Ahmed said. "We're actually welcoming them so that we can clear up what their point of view is, and maybe we don't agree, and maybe we do agree, and maybe it's just something that they're getting from the media or certain sources online."
El Maoued said many don't understand the condition of women in Islam.
"There's a whole thing they believe, that we objectify women, that we put them down, that they're a lower caste of the society, which is actually very incorrect," El Maoued said. "Women are actually more prized than men are in Islam. We have to show so much respect for them."
Mona Qassim, treasurer of the association, said the group has celebrated Islamic Awareness Week for 10 years.
"We would say that the reason
why we need it to happen every year is because, in current events, Islam is portrayed in such a negative way and not necessarily accurate," Qassim said. "We want to give people a better understanding."
Ahmed said the open house at the mosque Friday should draw lots of students.
"We're encouraging people to come - it's like our mass," Ahmed said. "They can watch us pray and how we do our mass, as opposed to whatever they believe."
Islamic Awareness Week
Tuesday
"Islam & The American Constitution,"
7:30 p.m. - SUB Lobo rooms Aˇand B
Wednesday
"Women In Islam,"
7:30 p.m. - SUB Acoma rooms A and B
Thursday
"Americans Who've Embraced Islam,"
7:30 p.m. - SUB Santa Ana room
Friday
Open House,
1:15 p.m. - Islamic Center of New Mexico, 1100 Yale Blvd. S.E.
