Coordinating Body of Muslim Councils in the West Formed

TEHRAN (IQNA) – US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of leading national and local American Muslim groups, joined with leaders from Muslim organizations in the West to issue the "Washington Declaration" announcing the formation of a coordinating body to deal with issues of common concern.

The declaration announcing the formation of the"Coordinating Body of Muslim Councils in the West"was issued at a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and was the result of consultations at the recently-concluded"1st International Conference of Muslim Councils in the West"held this week in Arlington, Va.

That international conference, organized by USCMO, brought together some 200 delegates from Muslim communities in the West including representatives from Muslim councils and member organizations fromNorth America, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, and Europeto discuss issues such as rising Islamophobia, Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and formulating strategic priorities.

Participants in the conference heard from U.S. officials, diplomats, community activists and leaders, academics and elected representatives.

Founding members of USCMO are AmericanMuslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA) and The Mosque Cares (Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed)

Source: CAIR