Jehovah’s Witnesses Learn Arabic in Outreach to Muslims

DEARBORN, Mich. — Some Jehovah’s Witnesses, known for their door-to-door efforts to bring people to their spiritual beliefs, have been learning Arabic as part of an effort to convert Muslims.

Jehovah’s Witnesses say 30 to 40 people affiliated with Kingdom Hall have learned Arabic, and they make trips into Arab-American neighborhoods on at least a monthly basis, The Detroit News reported Sunday.

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“This sort of thing is happening more and more, especially since September 11,” said Eide Alawan, a Muslim activist affiliated with the Islamic Center of America. “When they come around, most of the people in my neighborhood are courteous enough to say thank you very much.

“Our people like to enter conversation with them; to challenge them, so to speak. They try to convert us. And maybe we try to convert them. With people praying five times a day, maybe Islam is something that should interest them.”

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