Muslim leader Maher Hathout remembered at public memorial

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Dozens of people from different faiths joined together as one to remember Dr. Maher Hathout, a leading American-Muslim community leader in Los Angeles.

Hathout died on Jan. 3 at the age of 79 after a yearlong battle with liver cancer, but his beliefs and ideas will carry on.

A public memorial was held in downtown Los Angeles Saturday afternoon. A moment of silence was also held for the victims of the Paris terrorist attack.

The service brought together religious leaders from different faiths who worked with Hathout over the years. He was an activist who was dedicated to explaining Islam as a religion of reason and moderation.

Hathout was the spokesman and chairman at the Islamic Center of Southern California, and he encouraged Muslim-Americans to embrace their identity.

Throughout his life, Hathout spoke against corrupt ideology and extremism.

"What he was about was let us all speak as one human family, and I think that's the only way to really deal effectively with this problem of terrorism. We should isolate the terrorists, they don't belong to any faith, they don't even belong to humanity," said Salam Al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

"We will take the best of his example and continue his vision of peace and dignity and societal integration," said Los Angeles police Deputy Chief Mike Downing.

Hathout was the co-founder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. He founded that back in 1988, and he was also the council's senior advisor.

He was the first Muslim to give the invocation prayer at the Democratic National Convention in 2000, and he also authored several books.

Hathout is survived by his wife, two children and four grand-children.