Arab American author in danger of cancellation by Barnes & Noble Thur 5/24 @ 7:30 pm in Bayside, NY

Dear Friend of CAIR-PA,

Susan Abulhawa, human rights activist, award winning writer and founder of
Playgrounds for Palestine (http://www.playgroundsforpalestine.org), will be appearing at Barnes & Noble ( Bayside NY ) to promote her book THE SCAR OF DAVID http://www.scarofdavid.com/reviews).

We are asking for your cooperation regarding an important development with respect to the event where there is concern that Barnes & Noble may not allow Ms. Abulhawa to read from her book during her appearance. We are expecting inappropriate pressure to be imposed by groups purporting to represent the Jewish community at large in their portrayal of this book as anti-Semitic and filled with hatred.

The Scar of David is a work of historic fiction which reveals the untold brutal history of Israel 's occupation of a nation as also depicted by the recently released PALESTINE , Peace Not Apartheid by former USA President Jimmy Carter. Set in the lap of one of the 20th century's most intractable political conflicts. Through the course of this story, a Palestinian boy grows up as a Jewish Israeli, tangled in a truth he cannot reconcile, a would-be suicide bomber is given a name, a face, and life of a man pushed to grave limits, an Arab girl of pious and humble beginnings lives the "American Dream," and a nation of destitute refugees is forced to live under the general label of "terrorists".

We feel it is important for you to attend the event on Thursday evening, May 24 at 7:30 PM to lend your support to Susan Abulhawa and to ensure she does not face alone the potential for strong opposition attempting to prevent the appearance from taking place as scheduled. Library Journal (the nation's most credible resource for public reading) has published a review stating "While some readers might see this novel as anti-Semitic, it is not. Indeed, Abulhawa goes to great lengths to highlight the universal desire of all people for a homeland. Furthermore, Abulhawa's compassion for
American victims of 9/11 and for those who suffered in the Holocaust illuminates what it means to be humane and spiritually generous. The Pennsylvania-based Abulhawa, herself Palestinian, has crafted an intensely beautiful fictionalized history that should be read by both politicians and those interested in contemporary politics. Highly recommended."

(Also see this review published simultaneously in Arab American News and Palestine Times: < articleid="7632">http://arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=7632 .)

Please use this link for directions to the store

Please use this link for directions to the store
(< jsessionid="F03866FADD5C576D246490FBBED04224.worker2?store="2562"> http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/storedetail.do;jsessionid=F03866FADD5C576D246490FBBED04224.worker2?store=2562)


We look forward to a strong turnout on Thursday, May 24 at 7:30PM. Allowing Susan Abulhawa to be unfairly deprived of her right to free speech will make it even more difficult for other targeted minorities to express themselves while sending the wrong message to hate groups who find it easy to interfere with our rights as human beings.

We are counting on your personal support and expecting you to spread word of this potential threat to our freedom throughout your community.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Iftekhar Hussain
Chairperson, CAIR-PA Philadelphia Chapter