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Conyers To Muslim American Society: You Didn’t Get Permission to Use My Name

We thought it was a bit odd when we received an invitation (pasted below) from the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation that seemed to imply that the Congressional Black Caucus was co-hosting a one-sided “Middle East Briefing” as part of the CBC’s Annual Legislative Conference.

The Sept. 9 event, it turns out, was unofficial, and although Michigan Rep. John Conyers was listed as an honoree, his spokesperson told the Forward that he would not attend, and had not given permission to have his name used.

Here’s the notice:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

MAS FREEDOM FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO RECEIVE AWARD AT CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING AND PRE-RAMADAN BRUNCH – SATURDAY, SEPT. 9, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC – Sept. 8, 2006 (MASNET) The Muslim American Society’s Freedom Foundation is pleased to announce that its Executive Director, Imam Mahdi Bray, will be honored at a Congressional Black Caucus on the Middle East Briefing and Pre-Ramadan Brunch this Saturday, September 9, 2006.

The Muslim Legal Defense and Education Fund will host Saturday’s event at the Washington, D.C. Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street, NW., from 11:00 am until 1:30 PM in conjunction with the 36th Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, uniting 20,000 political and business leaders in Washington, D.C. for a series of forums and networking events.

This prestigious event serves as another opportunity for the American Muslim community to strengthen its relationship with congressional leaders and their guests attending the conference.

This year’s honorees include Imam Mahdi Bray, Executive Director, MAS Freedom Foundation, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Mel Watt, North Carolina Democrat Congressman John Conyers, Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee, and Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, Georgia Democrat & Human Rights Leader.

The award presentation and brunch is being headed by Khalid Kareem Esq. of the TEC Law Group.

Invited Policy Briefing Panelists: Ambassador of Lebanon; Ambassador of Syria; Washington Representative of the Palestinian Authority; DC Bureau Chief of Al Jazeera TV; and Middle East Scholar & Professor Dr. Sherman Jackson.

Supporters include: Supporters: The Muslim Link Newspaper; House of Health and Dar Es Salaam Bookstore; “Islamic Perspectives TV”; MAS Freedom Foundation; CAIR; Muslim Society of Washington; Sweet Tooth Bakery; TEC Law Group; Indigo Engineering Group; Jameel Alim Johnson; Attorney Anu Kemet; and Omar Ibn Abdul Malik & Family.

Audience: Members of Congress, Diplomats, congressional staffers, executives, Islamic scholars, lawyers, bankers, Muslim political leaders, and students.

Your support of MAS Freedom Foundation initiatives is crucial to its continued efforts on behalf of the Muslim American community. Please donate generously by mailing your contributions made payable to “MAS Freedom Foundation” at the address below or, if you prefer, donations are accepted via the MAS website. Visit: http://www.masnet.org/donate.asp

Thank you for your support.

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