Interfaith Firestorm in Los Angeles: Organizers hit back after Muslim Council denounces Jews–Muslims peace event

Organizers and featured speakers of an upcoming Muslim–Jewish interfaith event in Los Angeles have publicly responded after the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California criticized the gathering and questioned the credibility of some of its Muslim participants.

The event, “Breaking Bread: A New Dawn for Jews and Muslims,” is scheduled for March 29 at the Skirball Cultural Center and is being promoted as a response to rising antisemitism and a platform for Muslim–Jewish dialogue.

The dispute began after the Shura Council issued a press statement condemning the event and urging public officials, interfaith groups and Muslim community members not to endorse or support it. The council argued that the event elevates Muslim voices it considers unrepresentative of the broader Muslim community and said the initiative risks undermining trust rather than building it.

In response, some of the event’s organizers and speakers defended the gathering, saying it reflects a necessary effort to confront antisemitism and strengthen interfaith cooperation at a time of increasing social and political tension.

Organizers Defend the Event
In an exclusive interview with New York Parrot, organizers challenged the Shura Council to identify and convene the scholars, advocates and Muslim organizations it says have long worked to combat antisemitism.

They also cited recent incidents affecting Jewish communities in California and across the United States, including the killing of Paul Kessler in Thousand Oaks, tensions involving Jewish students at UCLA, attacks on Jewish-owned restaurants in Los Angeles, and ongoing security concerns at synagogues.

The organizers said such incidents require public solidarity and visible Muslim leadership against anti-Jewish hate.
“We don’t have to agree on everything, but it’s time to agree to stay in the same room,” one of the responses stated.

Soraya Deen Responds to Criticism

Among those who responded publicly was Soraya M. Deen, one of the Muslim speakers listed on the event flyer. Deen, a lawyer, community organizer and interfaith advocate, rejected the criticism and said the event is part of a broader effort to promote peace and dialogue.

She said she has been involved in initiatives aimed at supporting peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians and argued that hostility toward Jewish communities in the United States should not be normalized under the weight of international conflict.
Deen also criticized what she described as personal attacks on Muslim women involved in interfaith work and urged critics to engage directly rather than dismissing the event from outside.

Sheikh Musa Drammeh Invites Muslims to Attend

Also responded was Sheikh Musa Drammeh, another Muslim speaker featured on the program, who issued a public invitation encouraging Muslims in Los Angeles, including the critics, to attend the March 29 event.

In his message, Drammeh described the gathering as an opportunity for the public to meet Muslim leaders involved in peacebuilding and interfaith engagement. He said the event would provide a platform for interaction and discussion around difficult but important issues affecting both Muslim and Jewish communities.

A Broader Debate Over Interfaith Representation

The exchange reflects a wider debate within Muslim and interfaith circles in the United States over who speaks for communities in public dialogue and how Muslim–Jewish engagement should be framed amid the ongoing Israel–Palestine conflict.

Supporters of the event argue that continued dialogue is necessary to prevent further division and hate. Critics say such dialogue must be more broadly representative and grounded in community trust to be credible.

As of now, the event is still scheduled to proceed on Sunday, March 29.

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