Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On February 23, 2002, The Sand Diego Union-Tribune reported that "thousands of Muslims streamed into the San Diego Convention Center yesterday morning to pray about God's greatness and hear speeches extolling the virtues of their religion -- and of women in their faith... While Islam recognizes differences between men and women, 'it also affords them equality,' said Tehseen Lazzouni, one of the speakers at the Eid al-Adha holiday observance... In her talk, the 32-year-old San Diego resident said under Islam, women are free to pursue an education, participate in politics and choose their husband. She encouraged Muslim women to get involved -- from volunteering in their children's classrooms to voting... An estimated 5,000 people attended yesterday's service in honor of Eid al-Adha... Shakir Fardan, the 52-year-old assistant imam at Masjidul Taqwa, one of about a dozen mosques in San Diego County... urged Muslims to fill out survey forms, which were distributed to them and asked for their names and addresses, whether they were registered to vote and which mosque they attend."