December16th,2015

PresidentRyken,

AsChairoftheBoardoftheParliamentoftheWorldsReligions,Iamdisappointedwithyourrecent
decisiontosuspendDr.LaryciaHawkinsforherrecentcommentspostedonsocialmedia.

AsaMuslimandaleaderoftheoldestandlargestinterfaithorganizationintheworld,IcommendDr.
HawkinsactionsasbeingatangibleactofloveandsolidaritywithherAmericanandglobalneighbors,at
atimewhenpeacefulMuslimsareexperiencingrisinglevelsofhate,denouncement,andviolence.

Thisacttookbraveryandhumility.Inherexposition,Dr.Hawkinscontinuallyemphasizedheropening
line:
Idon'tlovemyMuslimneighborbecauses/heisAmerican.IlovemyMuslimneighborbecauses/he
deserveslovebyvirtueofher/hishumandignity.Thisisanincrediblyconcisesummaryofthegoalofthe
interfaithmovementnotaconflationofbeautiful,uniquefaiths,butacelebrationofthecommonheartofour
humanity.

Tofixateononesentencewhich,inthenarrativeofherlargerstatement,
clearly
isnotmeanttobea
theologicaltreatisebutacryofunitywithMuslimandJewishbrothersandsisters,isunfairand
counterproductivetoapeaceful,globalsociety.Christianswhostandwiththeoppressedaredemonstratingthe
mostbasictenantsoftheirfaithtodiscourageyourstudentsfromdoingsoisunfortunate.

OnbehalfofthisorganizationanorganizationcomprisedofdevoutChristians,Muslims,Hindus,Pagans,and
Buddhists,tonameafewI,withgreatconviction,askyoutorestoreDr.LaryciaHawkinspositionwithan
apology.MyhopeisthatWheatonCollegemadethisdecisioninhasteandunderimmensepressure,andthat
youhavetheopportunitytorectifyit.

Inpeace,

ImamAbdulMalikMujahid
BoardChairoftheParliamentoftheWorldsReligions