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Dear John,

When people hear “a mosque burned down,” on the news, it can sound like just another tragic headline that feels far away. It’s not until we see the faces of the people who prayed there, hear the children’s voices describing their fear, or watch a community gather in the ashes that it becomes real. In the docu-series A Town Called Victoria ([link removed]) , Director Li Lu gives names, faces, and emotions to this story of healing and struggle against hate after the local Mosque in Texas is burned to the ground.

The MPAC® Hollywood Bureau is proud to host a free screening and Q&A of A Town called Victoria Episode 1: The Fire in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at AMC Georgetown 14. Arrivals and reception begin at 6:00 pm ET.
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A Town Called Victoria is a Reel South, Independent Lens, and Center for Asian American Media co-production.
Watch the Trailer ([link removed])

A Town Called Victoria presents a nuanced portrait of a community confronting hate in its own midst, while grappling with deep-seated racial, religious, political, and economic rifts to find a collective way forward.

The distinguished panel and MPAC® leadership will speak on the horrific incident, the making of the documentary, and its aftermath.
Register to Attend In-Person Here! ([link removed])

Meet the Speakers:

Moderator:
Haris Tarin is the Vice President of Policy and Programming at the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Haris brings a wealth of experience from his decade-long tenure in the federal government having served in multiple roles as senior policy advisor on immigration, civil rights, civil liberties, and national security in the Department of Homeland Security. Haris most recently was the Chief of Staff of Operation Allies Welcome, the largest US evacuation and refugee resettlement program in our nation’s history. Haris has appeared on national and international news outlets (including CNN, Fox News, and BBC).

Panelists:

Mohammad Ali serves as the Director of Legislative and Congressional Affairs at the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Mohammad began his policy career in 2010 in the United States Senate, where he served as an advisor on National Security and Foreign Policy. He has held a number of senior level government relations positions and expanded his policy expertise to a variety of domestic issues ranging from tax policy to healthcare and civil rights.

Heidi Ajrami is a retired professor emerita from Victoria College where she taught English for twenty-five years. A native of Texas, she is also an Army brat who has lived and traveled all over the globe. Heidi has been a member of the Victoria Islamic Center since moving to Victoria in 1999.

Abed Ajrami was born in Gaza and attended the Baptist School of Nursing there. He became the president of the Student Council and later a member of the Ahli Baptist Hospital’s public relations committee during the first Palestinian uprising. Abe moved to the United States in 1993 where he earned his Master of Science degree in Health Services Management. He moved to Texas in 1999 and started TLC Staffing, a medical staffing agency which he sold in 2021 and retired. When the Victoria Islamic Center was destroyed by arson in 2017, Abe was a board member who became one of the spokespersons for the community after the arson.

Li Lu is the director of A Town Called Victoria was born in Suzhou, China, and raised in Sugar Land, Texas, her debut feature There Is a New World Somewhere won three Best Feature awards and was released theatrically. Her television directing credits include FOX’s The Resident and Netflix’s Echoes. A Town Called Victoria premiered on PBS’s Independent Lens and won Best Limited Series at the 2024 International Documentary Association Awards, earning Lu a place on DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40 list. Lu is also a film curator and creator of HTX MADE, a screening series in Houston. She is passionate about strengthening communities around the stories we tell.

Sue Obeidi serves as the Senior Vice President of the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau, Sue has led the organization’s efforts to transform how Islam and Muslims are represented in film and television for over two decades. Driven by their passion to ensure Islam and Muslims are portrayed with accuracy, dignity, and humanity, Sue and the MPAC team have made the Hollywood Bureau a trusted partner to studios, networks, and creatives.

Please note space is limited, and is on a first come first served basis.

In peace,

Sue Obeidi

Senior Vice President

MPAC Hollywood Bureau

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