Women and Sacred Texts

Dr. Riffat Hassan, noted Muslim scholar, will present at the event, "Women and Sacred Texts" Sunday, September 21.

Raleigh, September 21, 2003 - Dr. Riffat Hassan, a professor of Religious Studies at the University of Kentucky, a devout Muslim, and granddaughter of a famous Pakistani poet, will be keynote speaker at an event entitled Women and Sacred Texts" to be held Sunday, September 21, 2 -- 5 p.m, at Exploris at 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh. Dr. Hassan has been extensively involved in research on the role of women within the sacred texts of Islam, and has been part of numerous inter-religious dialogues with Jews, Christians, and those of other faiths. Women and Sacred Texts" is part of the series, 'Diverse Traditions/ Common Ideals, a joint project of the International Visitors Council/ World Affairs Council and The Interfaith Alliance of Wake County, and funded by the Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The event will include numerous panel members providing insight into their own faiths, accenting the main address of Dr. Hassan.

The discussion will provide an opportunity for audience participation. There will be a reception at the conclusion of the program, from 5 -- 6 p.m., with hors doeuvres and opportunities to socialize and network.

The event is free to the public. RSVP to ivc@northcarolina.edu or 919-838-9191.

WHO WE ARE
For 30 years, the International Visitor Council has brought participants to the Triangle from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience the United States firsthand. The visitors, who are current or potential leaders in government, politics, business, the media, education, and other fields, are selected by American officials overseas. They come to the United States for two to four week periods of sponsored travel through the auspices of the International Visitor Program of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State.

When their national itinerary includes the Triangle area, the International Visitors Council arranges their professional activities in a wide variety of fields, including biotechnology, business management, pharmaceuticals, environment law, government, grassroots democracy, print journalism, and broadcasting, finance, trade issues, the arts, and education. The emphasis of the program is to increase mutual understanding through communication at the personal and professional levels.

More than 200 current and former Heads of State, 1,500 cabinet-level ministers and many other distinguished world leaders in government and the private sector have participated in the International Visitors Program.

Our 2002 merger with the Triangle World Affairs Council complements our current programming and gives us additional resources, including access to former ambassadors and other prominent individuals available for speaking engagements in our area.