DVC student Colin Amato, 19, converted to Islam two years ago.

He was the featured speaker at the first of three events sponsored last month by the Muslim Student Association to bridge the gap between Muslims and non-Muslim students.

We did this so that we could raise awareness of the misconceptions surrounding Islam,” said MSA President Tori Burrell, “and also so that we can share our education about each other’s religion.”

Contrary to popular belief among mainstream Americans, Amato said, Islam freed Muslim women and gave them a voice by granting due process in the courts and the right to inherit.

“Before Islam,” he said, “Arabs use to practice infanticide when females were born into a family.”

Yet, the focus is usually on women of Islam suffering from torture, abuse and injustice, Amato said.

But there must be a distinction between the Taliban, which drive these perceptions, and the Koran itself, he said.

“We must not discriminate [against] a religion because of its human practitioners,” Amato said. “We must judge the religion on the sole basis of the teachings through the holy text; the Koran.”

The Koran is believed to be the direct words of god to the Muslims. But misconceptions arise because the Koran has been translated and published in many different versions, and verses are taken out of context, he said.

During a question-and-answer session following his talk, a student asked whether Muslims reconcile the “creation theory” and science.

Amato said he had never met a Muslim who did not accept the scientific explanation.

“We do, however, believe that God created everything in six stages, not six years,” he said.

Amato’s talk on Nov. 14 was followed by “Which is God’s word…The Bible or the Quran” on Nov. 19 and “Did Jesus Die” on Nov. 24.

The events were videotaped and are available for viewing through MSA in the Student Union Center. They can also be seen on You Tube by subscribing to “OZZYCDA.”