Frankfort Muslims Treat Neighbors to Community Fair

June 11, 2007

Author: Duaa Eldeib

Source: Daily Southtown

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/422423,112NWS2.article

While best friends Henna Eassa and Melanie Fernando share almost everything, there is one distinct aspect of their lives that they don't have in common: their faith.

But on Sunday, Henna, a 16-year-old Muslim, and Melanie, a 17-year-old Christian, spent the day together, munching on Indian and Pakistani cuisine, admiring their matching henna bracelets and taking a tour of the American Islamic Association at 8860 W. St. Francis Road in Frankfort.

"I think it's cool to know about different religions because then you can respect them," Fernando said. "I got to see the inside of a mosque, and I've never been inside a mosque before."

The second annual community fair drew a crowd of more than 200 people, with attractions ranging from free blood pressure screenings by staff members from Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey to an inflatable jumping house for kids.

See also: Interfaith, Islam, Civic