American Muslims Decry Egyptian Government's Mistreatment of Palestinians

Group calls on Egypt to allow aid into Gaza through its shared border

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Muslims Task Force (AMT), an umbrella organization of major American Muslim organizations, has called a press conference for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2009, to express its outrage at recent developments in Egypt as they relate to the occupied Palestinians of Gaza.

AMT also has approached the Honorable Mr. Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian ambassador to the United States, seeking a meeting to discuss Egypt's construction of an underground steel barrier that is being built to cut off a network of tunnels, through which the besieged Palestinians bring into Gaza much needed humanitarian supplies such as food and medicine.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Mr. Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations

Ashraf Nubani, American Muslims for Palestine

Imam Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society Freedom Forum

Dr. Zahid Bukhari, president of Islamic Circle of North America

Dr. Agha Saeed, chairman of American Muslim Task Force

Israel's siege of the occupied Palestinians of Gaza is well into its third year. The siege has plunged the 1.5 million residents of the Strip, which is one-tenth the size of Rhode Island, into a severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations reports at least 90 percent of Gazans now rely upon the UN for food aid. Egypt, succumbing to pressure from Israel and the United States, is now building a six-mile-long barrier that will sink 100 feet underground, effectively cutting off the last remaining resource for food, fuel and medicine. AMT denounces Egypt's actions.

WHAT: Press Conference

WHERE: Zenger Room, National Press Club

WHEN: 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2009

WHO: American Muslim Task Force

CONTACT: For more information, contact Kristin Szremski at 708.717.4180

The American Muslim Taskforce seeks to define the objectives, issues, and strategies that concern the American Muslim community through a bottom-up, community-based decision-making process.

SOURCE American Muslim Taskforce