against spiritual and sexual abuse by those in position of religious authority and influence. She explained in an interview with Haute Hijab magazine that she was motivated to act after witnessing on multiple occasions how the community was not able to appropriately acknowledge and deal with such situations. She said, "I realized we needed something broad and interdisciplinary to examine the scope of the problem, have a good understanding of all of the dynamics and develop educational materials and processes that we can bring to the community." Opposition to Islamic Extremism Mattson has been a critic of Islamic religious extremism since she first encountered the Taliban while trying to educate Afghan refugee girls in Pakistan. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Mattson published an internet article entitled "American Muslims have a Special Obligation." In the article, she stated, "I, as an American Muslim leader, denounce not only suicide bombers and the Taliban, but those leaders of other Muslim states who thwart democracy, repress women, use the Qur'an to justify un-Islamic behavior and encourage violence." Since the attacks of September 11, Mattson been interviewed many times on the radio. She has lectured publicly to denounce violence in the name of Islam and advocated for peaceful resolution of conflicts and differences. In a 2007 essay, Mattson condemned "Exclusivist, triumphalist, communal identities (religious or political)" that justify violent attacks on other groups. Mattson was one of the original signatories of the Amman Message that was an international Muslim response to sectarian violence and terrorism in the name of Islam. Publication Her book, The Story of The Qur'an: its history and place in Muslim Life (now in its 2nd edition) was chosen in 2012 by the National Endowment for the Humanities for inclusion in its "Bridging Cultures" program. Interviews On WHYY's "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross "A Convert to Islam Takes Leadership Role," September 28, 2006; On APM's "Speaking of Faith" with Krista Tippett "A New Voice for Islam," March 6, 2008; The Spiritual Fallout of 9/11," September 5, 2002; On WNPR’s "Where We Live" with John Dankoski "Christians and Muslims," February 13, 2008: On WNPR's "Where We Live" with John Dankoski "Finding a Religious Common Ground," January 27, 2009: On CBC's "The Sunday Edition" with Michael Enright "In Search of Moderate Muslims," January 4, 2010: On WBEZ's Worldview" with Jerome McDonnell "Muslim Women’s Leadership," May 4, 2010: See also List of