Islam is the second largest religion in the world, with more than 1.2
billion followers. Muslims reside in 184 countries and represent many
different ethnic groups and linguistic backgrounds, yet no other country
in the world has a Muslim population that is as culturally and
religiously diverse as that of the United States.  

It is this population that the Cultural Orientation Resource (COR)
Center at the Center for Applied Linguistics writes about in a
publication for teachers, case workers, employers, and other service
providers working with Muslim refugees. Written by by Patricia S. Maloof
and  Fariyal Ross-Sheriff, "Muslim Refugees in the United States: A
Guide for Service Providers," is a basic introduction to the worldview
of Muslim peoples. 

Topics covered in this 48-page document include an overview of the
fundamental tenets of Islam, necessary conditions for successful
resettlement, special considerations when working with Muslim men,
women, children, and elderly, as well as a list of resources for both
refugees and service providers. The document includes critical incidents
that discuss such issues as wearing the hijab [covering worn by some
Muslim women] on the job, two families living together rather than
taking the separate apartments provided for them; school issues with
children, etc., taken from actual incidents with Muslim refugees in the
United States. These so-called case studies include questions for
discussion. 

The guide can be downloaded (free) at
http://151.200.230.112/muslims/index.html

Coming soon from CAL: "The Hmong: An Introduction to their History and
Culture" 

For more information, contact Sanja Bebic at sanja at cal.org Or Sharyl
Tanck at sharyl at cal.org

Miriam
*********
Miriam Burt
Center for Applied Linguistics
4646 40th Street NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 362-0700
(202) 363-7204 (fax)
miriam at cal.org