Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Muslims In Oklahoma: Marjan Seirafi-Pour

Marjan Seirafi-Pour's toughest moment as a Muslim in Oklahoma came during what was supposed to be a celebration for the state.

Seirafi-Pour was the chairperson of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council in 2007, when the council decided to give Oklahoma politicians a Centennial Qur’an to commemorate Oklahoma's 100th birthday. A Baptist group had given Bibles to the politicians, so the council thought it would be acceptable with Qur'ans as well.

They were wrong. The gift was seen by some politicians as offensive. Some denied the Qur'ans, while the media created a firestorm over this issue. Suddenly Seirafi-Pour and her council were the subject of international outcry regarding their decision.

Despite the negative outlook by some, Seirafi-Pour saw many good things come from the controversy. The Muslim community in Oklahoma remained united and provided a strong support group, which gave Seirafi-Pour a distinct sense of pride in the Muslim leadership.

Though some politicians were rude to her, there were many that were very kind. Her proudest moments as a Muslim in Oklahoma have come from politicians.

Seirafi-Pour cherishes Governor Brad Henry's iftar dinners.

"Governor Henry's inclusiveness and willingness to consider everybody in Oklahoma equal and the same has helped in so many instances," Seirafi-Pour said.

Iftar is the breaking of the Ramadan fast, and Governor Henry was one of the first governors to begin reaching out to the Muslim community by participating in this event. Seirafi-Pour was even nominated by Governor Henry to be part of the Oklahoma Textbook Committee where she helps choose the curriculum for the schools of Oklahoma.

Seirafi-Pour was born in Tehran, Iran in the 1960s. As a child she attended schools mixed with boys and girls but that all changed in 1979 when she was about 13. The shah of Iran was overthrown and Iran became the Islamic Republic of Iran. Many reforms were implemented, including the segregation of schools by gender.

Her family decided to stay in Iran after the revolution, but the next year Iraq invaded Iran and began the nearly decade-long Iran-Iraq war. After realizing that there was no end in sight, Seirafi-Pour's family decided to move to Oklahoma where her bothers and sisters had already been in school.

One would think that leaving a war-torn country for Oklahoma would be tough in many ways. From dealing with a new language, to the cultural changes seen from the Islamic Republic to Oklahoma. However, Seirafi-Pour said the most difficult part of moving was, "Just like every 15 or 16 year old girl, leaving the friends and people you have gone to school with for years."

Seirafi-Pour went on to graduate from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City and then got a Respiratory degree from Rose State College in Midwest City. Following that, she earned a bachelor's degree in Allied Health Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

She has now spent 20 years in the healthcare field. In addition to her healthcare degrees she has a Master's in Educational Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

She is now working on her master's in International Relations. For this degree she is writing her dissertation about the Basij women in Iran. The women of the Basij are a volunteer paramilitary militia force consisting of women between the ages of 18 and 38 years old.

Seirafi-Pour's work will be the first of its kind, which makes it difficult for her to find references to use. Her ability to speak Farsi, the language of Iran, helps her greatly in her work.

Seirafi-Pour's experiences in the Muslim community of Oklahoma have left her with a distinct sense of pride and optimism about the future.

"I think here in Oklahoma and in general in America that Muslims are being able to achieve what they want and be successful and work hand in hand with others to make America a better place," Seirafi-Pour said.

Seirafi-Pour's work with the Oklahoma Textbook Committee and the governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council as well as many other organizations are a prime example of Muslims working hand in hand with others to make America a better place.






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