Muhammad Hamaz has never met another Muslim in Batavia. He worships with a community in Rochester when he can. But he said he wanted people in Batavia to know more about Islam, so he sat on a bench on Main Street, between the U.S. Post Office and Tim Horton's, holding a sight that read, "I'm A Muslim. Ask Me About Islam."

"Shock and Alarm: What it was really like at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq?" is the title of a  book written by Hugh Iwanicki, former Batavian, son of attorney/judge Don and Corrine Iwanicki.

Hugh will be at the Holland Land Office Museum at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7^th to review his book and talk about his experiences. He looks forward to meeting the people of our community and will be happy to sign books prior to and after his presentation.

This is open to everyone. There is no charge for the presentation, but donations are always welcome at the Museum. Call the museum for more information at 343-4727.

"Shock and Alarm" is a riveting behind-the-scenes exposé of daily life at the Baghdad Diplomatic Compound in 2009, providing an insightful look at the culture clash taking place between the Islamic world and the West. This is Hugh's personal story of the 11 months he served as a performance auditor for the Office of the Inspector General at the Embassy.

The book exposes the Islamist Agenda via firsthand accounts, which takes us through Hugh’s transformation from a liberal-spirited American to a man confronted by the harsh realities of the Middle East.

Hugh’s realization: From a Muslim perspective, the only way to truly “respect” Islam is to either convert to it or accept it as a superior religion by submitting to its political hegemony.