The construction of an Islamic center near the site in New York City where the World Trade Center twin towers were toppled in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a Gainesville minister’s threat to have a public burning of the Quran , both have sparked nationwide controversy about Islam in recent months

The construction of an Islamic center near the site in New York City where the World Trade Center twin towers were toppled in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a Gainesville minister’s threat to have a public burning of the Quran , both have sparked nationwide controversy about Islam in recent months.

On Wednesday night, the Interfaith Coalition of Tampa Bay will host a panel discussion focusing on the Muslim religion titled “Can’t We All Just Get Along?” at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater. The public is welcome to attend.

Featured speakers from different Islamic communities will discuss how Muslims practice their faith, organizers say. They will answer questions about Islam and address responses from other faith leaders.

It’s the first in a series of programs to promote interfaith understanding and cooperation.

“What we’ve seen over the years is that there is a hunger to learn more about others’ faith,” said the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi of Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater. “We held a series like this about three or four years ago and averaged 150 people.”

Janamanchi, 41, of Safety Harbor has been senior minister at Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater for 12 years and will serve as panel moderator.

After a question-and-answer period, participants will split into groups for discussions under the direction of Roy Kaplan, an associate professor of Africana studies at the University of South Florida.

From 1989 to 2004, Kaplan was executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice Tampa Bay Region.