Cultural Engagement Series: Iraq, Back in the Eye of the Storm

Longtime Middle East peace activist Sami Rasouli will present a talk entitled, “Iraq: Back in the Eye of the Storm,” from 6:30 – 8 p.m. on May 5 at the UW Center for Civic Engagement, Sonnentag Room, 625 Stewart Ave., Wausau.

An Iraqi-American who lived in Minnesota for many years, Rasouli returned to Iraq in 2003 after the U.S. invasion. He is director of Muslim Peacemaker Team Iraq, dedicated to the principles of nonviolence. Several times a year he returns to the U.S. to spread the message of nonviolence as a way to solve conflicts.

His talk will address topics such as:

• What’s it like in Iraq today?
• What is ISIS, and is the Iraqi army as bad as ISIS?
• What is the U.S. military doing in Iraq? Is another U.S. war in Iraq imminent?
• What is the role of Islamophobia in the West in justifying U.S. intervention?
• Who reaps the most benefits from Iraqi oil resources?

In addition to his peacemaking efforts in Iraq, Rasouli is experienced in mediation and conflict resolution, a Minneapolis community activist, business leader and creator of Muslim/Jewish Dialogue of Minnesota.

This event, part of WIPPS’ Cultural Engagement Series, is free to the public and sponsored by WIPPS, UW-Marathon County and the Merrill Peace Study Group.

For more information, contact Connie Nikolai, WIPPS events coordinator, at connie.nikolai@uwc or 715-261-6368.