The Muslim Student Association hopes to dispel some misconceptions about their faith through activities and lectures this week.

“Lately, there has been a lot of interest after Sept. 11, and especially now with the whole war,” said Bilal Mamdani, president of the Muslim Student Association and a biomedical engineering junior. “What is given in the news is not necessarily correct.”

The first event of Muslim Student Awareness week was a showing of “Malcom X” at Coffman Union on Monday night.

Event organizer Rima Reda said although the week will be educational, it will not be “Islam 101.” Instead, events will focus on the way Muslims practice their faith.

Dr. John L. Esposito, a Georgetown University professor of religion, international affairs and Islamic studies, will lecture Tuesday. He is a nationally known expert on political Islam who founded the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.

Esposito will discuss Islamic extremism and the conditions that breed terrorists like Osama bin Laden, Reda said.

Another event titled “Jesus & Muhammed: Brothers in Faith,” will explain connections between aspects of Christianity and Islam. The Saturday event features two lectures on “the Jihad of Jesus” and how the Bible predicts the prophet Muhammad.

Tuesday night’s event featuring Esposito is at 7 p.m. in the Coffman Union Theater. The first part of Saturday’s event, titled “The Jihad of Jesus,” will be at 3 p.m. in Room 2-650 of the Moos Tower. The second part, titled “Muhammed in the Bible,” will be at 6 p.m. in the Coffman Union Theater.

Patricia Drey welcomes comments at [email protected]