On September 28th, Muslim Voices IU hosted an the event "Deterring Islamophobia with Citizen Diplomacy." This talk was Part I of the Muslim Voices 2023-24 Lecture Series on Post-9/11 U.S. Citizenship Diplomacy Initiatives.
On September 28, Attorney Sahar Taman visited IU Bloomington to give a talk on her twenty-year-long journey as a citizen diplomat to mitigate Islamophobia in both formal and informal capacities. The discussion was sponsored by the Center for the Study of the Middle East, Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, Islamic Studies Program, Center for the Studies of the Global Change, Dhar India Studies Program, Arabic Flagship Program, and African Studies Program.
During this talk, Attorney Sahar Taman traced the evolution of what was known as xenophobia into the anti-Muslim narrative in the 9/11 aftermath. Sahar Taman also shared her personal experiences as a first-generation migrant and Muslim in the US. These experiences and opportunities taught her the importance of citizen diplomacy in shaping a positive image of Muslims in America and other countries. What is the role of citizen diplomacy and how does it manifest? One example is Religion and Society, a program funded by the National Peace Foundation to bring together people with different religious backgrounds. This initiative included high school exchange programs, international volunteering, post-secondary programs, intercultural competencies, and academic impact. Sarah Taman emphasized the role of educating the younger generation as globally-minded individuals. In conclusion, the attorney encouraged the Muslim community of the US and beyond to reciprocate with other religions and inform people who are unfamiliar with Islam. This, Sarah Taman believes, is the only way that will help to improve the image of Muslims in the US in the long run.