Malaysian envoy says U.S.-based Muslim diplomats should dispel misperceptions of Islam

"It would be a good forum for Muslim countries to interact with the United States on issues that affect the Muslim community," the national Bernama news agency quoted Rajmah Hussain, Malaysia's ambassador to the United States, as saying.

Rajmah, speaking at a diplomatic dinner in Washington on Thursday, said Malaysia will present a proposal to form a U.S.-based grouping comprised of representatives of members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the world's biggest Muslim political bloc.

Malaysia, which currently chairs the 57-member OIC, believes the grouping is needed in Washington to help dispel misperceptions about Islam and deter hostility toward Muslims, Rajmah said.

"As a Muslim, I feel Islam is unfairly targeted," Rajmah was quoted as saying.

Rajmah was speaking to ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Senegal, as well as Eric John, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia, and Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican nuncio to the United States, Bernama said. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/