Christian and Muslim leaders in Charlotte will gather for an interfaith forum examining Black political mobilization, faith, media narratives and Palestine.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Faith leaders from Christian and Muslim communities will convene Feb. 10 at the Al Nour Community Center to examine the intersection of Black American political mobilization and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The event, titled “Beyond Weaponization: Black History, Christian & Muslim Solidarity, and Palestine,” is scheduled for 7 p.m. at 8310 Harrisburg Road.
The program aims to explore how Black Americans have been politically and culturally engaged with Zionist ideology and whether such engagement aligns with human rights principles and faith-based ethics.
Five speakers will address topics ranging from liberation theology to media representation and interfaith cooperation.
Rev. Dr. Paul A. McAllister, founder and president of Global Leaders in Unity & Development, will discuss the Black church’s historical commitment to liberation theology and current divisions within Black faith communities regarding Israel-Palestine.
Two local imams will provide Islamic perspectives on the issue. Imam Atif Chaudhry, executive director of the Rahma Center of Charlotte, will speak on Islamic principles of justice. Imam Ibn Tamir of Masjid Ash Shaheed will trace the history of Christian-Muslim cooperation.
Dr. Hadia Mubarak, associate professor of religion at Queens University of Charlotte, will examine the connections between anti-Black racism, anti-immigrant policies and Islamophobia in U.S. foreign policy and media representation.
Laila El-Ali, a community organizer with Charlotte United for Palestine and other Arab-based community organizations, will also participate.
The event’s stated objectives include examining parallels between Black American and Palestinian struggles, analyzing media narratives about Black, Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian identities, and discussing how these dynamics manifest in Charlotte.
