Bridges TV to Televise First-Ever FBI and Muslim Town Hall.

May 15th Forum Allows Muslims to Voice Growing Concerns to FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In an historic first, Bridges TV will air its nationally televised Town Hall meeting between the FBI and Muslim and Arab Americans on Monday, May 15th at 8 pm ET / 9 pm PT. The Town Hall is the first time that the FBI and Muslim and Arab Americans have engaged in a dialog on national television. The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) hosts the town hall on national television in an effort to allow the American Arab and Muslim community a chance to voice their concerns publicly and directly to the FBI.

Paul Moskal, chief division counsel for the FBI in Buffalo, N.Y., fielded questions along with Tom Ginter, a recruiter for the FBI. The televised town hall is hosted by Adnan Mirza, Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations for Columbus, Ohio (CAIR-OH). "Our goal is to foster a better relationship between the American Muslim community and law enforcement authorities through communication and understanding," said Mirza.

"The FBI and Muslim Town Hall is just another example of the highly unique and differentiated television programming that Bridges TV is bringing to the nation. With the present world situation, this kind of programming is top of mind for all Americans," said Mo Hassan, CEO of Bridges TV.

The broadcast can be seen live on digital basic cable in Detroit, MI; Chicago, IL; and Columbus, OH on WOW! Cable and Internet. Residents of Toledo, OH and Massachusetts can watch on their digital basic cable on Buckeye Cable and Internet and Shrewsbury Cable and Internet, respectively. Nationwide, Globecast World TV satellite is broadcasting the historic FBI and Muslim Town Hall on its basic service. The U.S. State Department plans to broadcast this FBI and Muslim Town Hall worldwide in June on the U.S. Embassy Television Network.

Participants questioned Moskal on topics such as loss of personal freedoms associated with the Patriot Act, concerns regarding delayed immigration and FBI monitoring of mosques and donations to Muslim charities.

Dr. Syed Ali Khan, an Iranian-born physician from West Virginia, voiced his frustration over security checks that have slowed his application for permanent U.S. residency. "I have never even had a speeding ticket in my life. Yet it has taken more than two and a half years for a security check," he said. Dr. Khan noted that this has impeded his career and plans for the future.

Moskal agreed that although the process is frustrating for some, difficulty with common last names and contact with government agencies in foreign nations cause delays.

Another caller voiced concern over monitoring of Muslim charities and how Muslims could assure they were donating to a legitimate fund. "When we write a check to a Muslim charity, how do we know our money reaches the intended recipient and doesn't land in a fund frozen by the United States government?" he asked.

"The public should know that we want to reach out to the Arab and Muslim communities. The FBI is committed to protecting their Constitutional rights," said Moskal. Ginter, FBI Special Agent for recruitment, noted that the Town Hall is an opportunity to ask for help within these communities. "Since 9/11, the FBI's main focus has shifted to preventing terrorism. This town hall allows us to recruit special agents within these communities to help us do that," said Ginter.

About Bridges TV

Bridges TV is a 24x7 network in English focused on bridging the gap between Western and Middle Eastern/South Asian cultures. The network is available on digital basic in one million cable homes. To learn how to receive Bridges TV, please visit http://www.bridgestv.com/.

To request a preview DVD of the Town Hall, email hbaliwala@bridgestv.com or call 716-812-6972.

For high-resolution photographs, please visit http://www.bridgestv.com/pictures.asp.

For a 3-minute video preview, please visit http://bridgestv.barakastreaming.com/vod/FBI3min.wmv.

   Contacts:    Mo S. Hassan, CEO, Bridges TV: 716-308-6593 (c);   716-662-5321; mohassan@bridgestv.com    Paul Moskal, FBI Special Agent: 716-866-3119 (c);   716-843-5270; paul.moskal@ic.fbi.gov    Adnan Mirza, CAIR Director: 614-905-8492 (c); 614-451-3232;   director@cair-ohio.com   

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

CONTACT: Mo S. Hassan, CEO, Bridges TV, +1-716-308-6593 (c), or +1-716-662-5321, or mohassan@bridgestv.com; or Paul Moskal, FBI Special Agent, +1-716-866-3119 (c), or +1-716-843-5270, or paul.moskal@ic.fbi.gov; or Adnan Mirza, CAIR Director, +1-614-905-8492 (c), or +1-614-451-3232, or director@cair-ohio.com

Web site: http://www.bridgestv.com/