Ammon News - AMMONNEWS – The U.S. Embassy in Amman is hosting prominent interfaith activist Imam Yahya Hendi, who is on a visit to the region. Imam Yahya Hendi is the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He is also the Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick, Maryland and serves as a member of and spokesman for the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of North America.

During his visit to Jordan, Imam Hendi will address local Imams and religious leaders as well as university students on issues related to inter-religious tolerance and understanding. He will also discuss the new U.S. administration’s outreach to the Muslim world and engage in media availabilities.

In his response to U.S. President Barack Obama’s June 4th speech in Cairo, Imam Hendi called on Muslims to take the initiative seriously. He said: “President Obama did his part reaching out to Muslims, and now it is the time for Muslims worldwide to leadership and join the world in real efforts for dialogue.”

Imam Hendi has written publications on many topics, including women in Islam, gender relations in Islam and Islam in the United States. Over the past 10 years, he has presented interfaith lectures in the United States, Asia, Africa, Europe, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Imam Hendi often lectures at churches and synagogues to a new, positive relationship between the followers of the three Abrahamic religions.

Imam Yahya Hendi holds a B.A. degree in Islamic Law and Theology from the University of Jordan. He also holds two Masters Degrees, one in Comparative Religion from Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. Imam Hendi is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Comparative Religion.