Award-winning author to give talk on Islam at St. Lawrence University April 13

CANTON - Melody Meozzi, award-winning author of War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims, will give a talk titled "A Jihad for Peace: Islam as a Foundation for Democracy and Human Rights" Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Hepburn Hall, Room 218, St. Lawrence University.

Meozzi's talk will focus on the true meaning of jihad, understood as both an internal spiritual struggle to maintain faith and improve the soul, and as an external struggle against injustice and oppression.

It shines a light on the compatibility of Islam and democracy, as well as the compatibility of Islam and feminism - that Islam requires democracy and human rights, including women's rights.

She will also discuss "Islamophobia" and the realities of living as a Muslim American in a post-9/11 world.