A number of ethnic groups gathered Saturday and Sunday at Washington Square to celebrate the fifth annual Salt Lake American Muslim Cultural Festival — something state leaders said was a tremendous learning experience.

Ghulam Hasnain, director of the event, said he wanted to include all different cultures to celebrate on the day that Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Salt Lake County Mayor PeterCorroon and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson collectively declared the Utah American Muslim Cultural Festival Multi-ethnic Solidarity Day.

"Either we stand together or fall separately," Hasnain said.

"It's a tremendous learning experience to be able to recognize and applaud our differences, especially in Utah," said Palmer DePaulis, executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Culture.

"This brings people together to celebrate all the diversity we have in the community, plus people are learning and networking with other cultures and becoming more aware of other cultures and beliefs," he said.

Hasnain said the event is dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and honoring diversity. He said in a time where Muslims are often misunderstood and looked at negatively it is important for groups to share cultures with one another to promote understanding.

Peter Sluglett, professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of Utah, said there are currently 2.35 million Muslims in the United States, translating to .67 percent of the current U.S. population. And 65 percent are foreign-born.

The purpose of the Salt Lake American Muslim organization is to improve the Salt Lake area's quality of life by contributing to social and cultural activities for and by Muslims in the area.

The group provides social services, employment, vocational education, refugee assistance, housing, health, legal aid, as well as acculturation and cultural programs for those originating in Muslim countries from Bosnia to Sudan, Morocco to Indonesia.

"It's so crucial in people of other cultures and traditions coming together, getting to know one another and appreciating the differences and the richness that these differences bring to our community and our personal lives," Anderson said.

---

E-mail: terickson@desnews.com