AMERICAN MUSLIMS: A CHANCE TO SPEAK, an interfaith religion special on American Muslims speaking about and for themselves, will be broadcast Sunday Dec. 9 on the CBS Television Network. Check your local station for exact time.

This program centers on the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo (Ohio). It is a 75-year-old Muslim community in the American heartland which observes the most important elements of Islamic life and teaching, while at the same time is progressive enough to adapt to the American lifestyle and extend a welcoming hand to other religious and college groups with an interest in Islam. It would be fair to say that the Center and its people are typical of established mainstream Muslims in America. They are, for the most part, educated, affluent and ambitious.

They are also most anxious to get their story across as they see it...and not have the public rely on news reports and dramas involving Muslims with radical agendas. For one instance, they believe the 9/11 terrorists were not true Muslims since the Islamic faith prohibits killing innocent people or even taking one's own life.

The broadcast explores Muslim beliefs, community outreach to non-Muslims, and how 9/11 affected American Muslims - by speaking with a great many of them. Included are Yehia Shousher and Mitch Salem, founding fathers of the original Toledo community, which was primarily Syrian and Lebanese; it has since grown to include Muslims from 23 countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. We speak with Imam Farooq Abo-Elzahab, spiritual leader trained in Cairo and hand picked by the Islamic Center; Drs. Zaheer Hasan and A.Y. Ahmed, past and present presidents of the Center; Imam Ibrahim Abdul Rahim who serves African-American converts to Islam in inner-city Toledo; Dr. Fadia Abaza, a pediatrician who is president of the local Islamic Medical Association; financial advisor Nadeem Salem; homemaker Lisa Hawary; and Kati Hammoud, a teacher of children with emotional disorders.

 The program also speaks with  Arbid Wehbi, restaurant owner/manager; ex-marine Haider Naisruddin; Rev. Larry Clark, United Methodist pastor and former executive director of Toledo Area Ministries; and Dr. Ingrid Mattson, professor of Islamic Studies and Christian Muslim relations at Hartford Seminary and president of the Islamic Society of North America, the largest Muslim umbrella group.

John P. Blessington is executive producer; Ted Holmes is the producer. The special is produced with the cooperation of the National Council of Churches, The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Union for Reform Judaism, the New York Board of Rabbis and The Islamic Society of North America.

Press Contact:  Jeremy Murphy            212/975-4577              jeremy.murphy@cbs.com