In an effort to increase awareness about Muslim culture and dispel stereotypes about Islam, the Muslim-cultural Students Association today is kicking off Northwestern’s ninth annual Islam Awareness Week.

Organizers said the activities are focused on providing basic education about Islam rather than addressing controversial issues that recently have brought Muslim culture into the international spotlight.

“This week is not that focused on international situations, and it’s more about demystifying all of the misconceptions about Islam that people just assume from what people do around the world,” said Shabir Abadin, a Weinberg senior and McSA vice president for public relations. “We are giving people a chance to ask questions, voice their opinions and have a sort of dialogue with people who know what they are talking about.”

Islam Awareness Week is an international event coordinated on more than 200 university campuses in the United States, as well as in Canada and England.

Throughout the week, McSA will be passing out free hot chocolate and information at The Rock as well as organizing a Jeopardy! game booth at Norris University Center where students can answer questions about Islam and win candy.

The first event will be a student-led panel discussion Tuesday night explaining why more than 1.2 billion people still believe in Islam’s final prophet more than 1,400 years after his death.

“In the discussion, we’ll be talking about Prophet Muhammad and his life and his impact on Muslims and the Islamic world,” said Kasim Arshad, a Weinberg junior and executive vice president for McSA.

On Sunday night guest speaker Dr. Jamal Badawi, a professor of religion at Saint Mary’s University, will elaborate on the Islamic perspective of Jesus and Jesus’ role in the lives of Muslims.

“A lot of people are confused about whether Muslims believe in Jesus, and (Badawi) will be discussing the view of Muslims on Prophet Jesus and the impact he had on Islam,” Arshad said.

Organizers said they hope students will take time to participate in some of the week’s events.

“I want people to be more educated and more aware about Islam, what it is and what it entails and not just the stereotypes,” said Shawn Liu, co-president of McSA. “It’s just served to people on a platter. Show up for an hour, and I’m sure you’ll gain some kind of new information about Islam that you didn’t know when you walked in.”