Washington D.C. (Adelle M. Banks), 11 November 2009:

The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions has announced that a Chicago imam has been elected as its new chair, marking the first time a Muslim spiritual leader has led the interfaith organization.

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, executive producer of a daily Muslim radio call-in talk show in Chicago, was elected chair at a board meeting in October and the announcement was made on 10 November.

Tension in US after shooting
The announcement of his election comes at a time of tension for U.S. Muslims, after a Muslim suspect was accused of killing 13 people on 5 November at Fort Hood in Texas. Major Nidal Malik Hasan is also accused of wounding dozens more people in the attack.

Mujahid addressed the tragedy during a sermon at the Downtown Islamic Center in Chicago on 6 November when he encouraged members to find ways to "strengthen society where saving lives is paramount," the Chicago Tribune newspaper reported.

"You know the mixed feelings we have," said Mujahid, who serves as a volunteer spiritual leader at the mosque. "We oppose wars, but we never take lives into our own hand."

Mujahid, who currently is vice chair of the council, succeeds the Rev. William E. Lesher, who has been chair since 2003. He will begin his term on 1 January, shortly after the council oversees the 3-9 December gathering of the parliament in Melbourne, Australia.

According to the Web site of the Parliament of the World's Religions, Imam Mujahid has initiated a joint campaign between American Muslims and the National Organization of Women (NOW) to declare rape a war crime.