On Monday, August 4, the Muslim Solidarity Committee, founded in 2006 to advocate for Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain, two local Muslims entrapped in an FBI sting operation, will mark the tenth anniversary of their arrests with a rally, march, and staged reading of a short play. Media and supporters are invited to attend.

 

At 4:30 p.m., supporters will rally at the Washington Avenue Armory, corner of Lark Street and Washington Avenue, then march at 5 p.m. up Central Avenue to the Masjid As-Salam (280 Central Avenue), which was raided on August 4, 2004 as part of the sting that ultimately convicted the two men in 2006. Yassin Aref was imam of the mosque and Mohammed Hossain was a senior member.

 

Around 5:30 p.m. at the mosque, the Project SALAM Players will perform a staged reading of a short play, “To Catch a Muslim,” written by area attorney and Aref defense lawyer Stephen Downs. The play dramatizes, with some dark humor, the entrapment scheme scripted by the FBI that targeted Hossain, a pizzeria owner, and Aref, the government’s main focus.

 

Dinner will be served at the Masjid As-Salam after the reading.

Information:  Kathy Manley, (518) 596-3851, mkathy1296@gmail.com
More information and a flyer to download here.