The upcoming Islamophobia Conference in Atlanta Assalaamu Alaikum: Let me state up front that this particular message is only being sent by me to the Muslim members of our listserve (with the only exception being my non-Muslim cousins in NCPCF). ALLAH has blessed us with a large listserve of Muslim and non-Muslim recipients from around the world. While there will undoubtedly be other non-Muslims who read this, I am sending it out to the Muslim members of our listserve because it involves some strong, but well intentioned, internal criticism. An Islamic conference - billed as ERADICATING ISLAMOPHOBIA, With A Conversation Around Women In Islam - is scheduled for Atlanta, Georgia, November 22-24, 2013. (Go to: WWW.ISLAMICCONFERENCE.ORG for details) The conference was brought to my attention last month when I visited Atlanta, Georgia, for the annual Muslim Day Event at Grant Park. I had our human rights display up in the vending area, and was given an opportunity to briefly address one of the salat gatherings. A number of brothers and sisters asked if I was planning to return to Atlanta for the upcoming Islamophobia conference, and insisted that I needed to be there. One of the brothers was Imam Mansoor Sabree, leader of one of the largest and most prominent centers in Metro Atlanta (The Atlanta Masjid). Over the past few weeks weve exchanged a couple of texts in which he assured me that he was making an effort to have me included in the program. The final text message that came to me from this young imam (in response to my text) came on November 3 (3:37 PM) and it read: I dont know why they havent called you. But I will check again, isa. After a few days passed, I instinctively knew that the call would never come; and while I sincerely appreciated Imam Mansoors effort, I also knew why. Because the organizers (and their advisors) are not serious about addressing the issue of Islamophobia (and its many weighty human rights related consequences in the American social and political construct) in the manner that it needs to be addressed; which is to say, with an aim toward effectively doing something about it! Before I proceed any further in my critique, Id like the reader to reflect on the following food for thought. A Statement from Imam Siraj Wahhaj (addressed to the Muslim community during the month of Ramadan, two or three years ago) Dear Brothers and Sisters, Assalaam Alaikum: May Allah grant you a blessed Ramadan. May He accept all of your deeds done for His sake. One of the ways that you can procure the blessings of our Lord is to participate in good deeds. One of the good deeds that you can participate in is support of Brother Mauri Saalakhan of The Peace and Justice Foundation. In my opinion Brother Saalakhan has done more than any individual, or organization, in bringing to the forefront information about injustices, and advocating for the rights of Muslims (and others). I depend on his many briefings to keep me up to date on the various cases around the United States (as well as other parts of the world). Please support him in any way you can. One of the ways you can support his work (and as a result help the many cases that he is involved with, like Sister Aafia Siddiqui) is by donating GENEROUSLY to his organization. I believe that Allah will reward you greatly by supporting the work of this courageous brother! Please join Brother Saalakhan in the various courtrooms across the nation, as he supports those Muslims who are in desperate need of our support! Also try to join him in the various demonstrations, etc. that he helps top organize. I give my FULL support to brother Saalakhan! May Allah bless his work and may Allah bless YOU for assisting him to do that work. Your brother in Islam, Imam Siraj Wahhaj A Statement from Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin Eleven months after Imam Jamils politically charged case erupted on the West End of Atlanta, the imam sent out a letter from the Fulton County Jail (dated February 1, 2001) containing the following message: Brother El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan The Peace & Justice Foundation Assalaamu Alaikum: I continuously have followed the work of The Peace and Justice Foundation, under your leadership, and have been impressed with the issues addressed and the initiatives taken to inform Islamic communities, in particular, of challenges affecting Muslims in North America and abroad. You were vigilant in your pursuit to challenge secret evidence and other human rights and constitutional abuses, and you remain steadfast in your commitment. We pray that Allah will reward your drive to mobilize Muslims, especially around critical issues that will affect future generations. In addition, I extend my appreciation for your supporting our efforts to inform the public of issues relative to my legal case. Your establishment of a national education initiative regarding my case has helped to highlight my plight. We must continue our fight to correct the wrongs, and we welcome your assistance. May Allah guide you and grant you success. Hasbunallah, Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin An Observation by Imam Zaid Shakir A year or two ago, Imam Zaid was in the Washington area as the keynote speaker for a fundraising event at the Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Silver Spring, MD. I had just returned from an out-of-town trip, but decided to drop by the program anyway (toward its conclusion) just to say hello. Zaid and I go back a number of years; he also knows my parents and my brother, Mustafa, from the years he spent in Connecticut before his move to California. Imam Zaid also knows Aafia personally (from her years as a gifted student and committed MSA leader at MIT and Brandeis); and he is on record as stating the following: Every person if conscious must raise their voice to condemn this outrageous travesty [Aafias imprisonment in the U.S. under an 86 year sentence]. Aafias real crime is being a practicing Muslim. Any of us could be in her place right now. If we do not raise our voices to make sure everyone in this country knows the magnitude of the injustice that has been done to her we will all be vulnerable. (Emphasis mine) As I walked up to him toward the end of the aforementioned MCC program, he stated to the community leaders who were standing around him, Do you see this brother walking up, Br. Saalakhan, you all need to support him and his organization in whatever way you can, because hes doing a very important work. Now, here is my argument. If what these prominent Muslim leaders have said (above) is true, and the organizers of an Islamophobia Conference anywhere in America were serious, Mauri Saalakhan should have been one of the first brothers invited to the table. Why? Because when youre going into battle (if youre serious) you want your most experienced and capable soldiers on the front line! Furthermore, if A Conversation around Women in Islam is to be part of the agenda, how could any committed Muslim in America in good conscience leave Dr. Aafia Siddiqui out of the conversation (if youre truly, truly serious)?! One of the most troubling aspects of Aafias case for me, is the prevailing wide-scale ignorance within the Muslim American community (esp. among far too many of its leaders) regarding who she is, and how she came to be where she is. The depth of that ignorance was on full display when the leader of Americas most prominent civil rights organization responded to a question regarding Aafia in a relatively recent interview conducted by MEMRI. Here is an excerpt: Nihad Awad: With regard to our sister Aafia Siddiqui, this is undoubtedly a sensitive criminal case and a security issue. Interviewer: Who is she? Nihad Awad: Aafia Siddiqui is originally from Pakistan, as far as I know. She is incarcerated in the US, having received a long prison sentence, for her alleged involvement in – quote, unquote – “terrorist acts.” We in CAIR are following this case, through our New York chapter. In 2013, in the coming weeks, we will dedicate more attention to her. We will follow the case, and see what we can do. I personally intervened in this case, without talking about it in the media. I can reassure the brothers and sisters who called this show that I have personally dealt with this case on a high level in the US, and even in diplomatic circles. When we have any news, we will let you know. There are a number of things about this exchange that really bothered me: (a) This interview was reportedly conducted in December 2012 (see below). After five plus years in the United States (preceded by five years of secret imprisonment and torture overseas), frontline leaders of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) - and every other national Muslim organization in America of note - should know the details of this case backward and forward! (b) Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was NEVER EVEN CHARGED WITH A TERRORIST ACT (Not One!) - which ended up being a back door admission by the US Government that it was wrong about her all along! For any prominent Muslim leader in America to still be regurgitating this garbage (even in quotes) - is embarrassing (to say the least)! (c) The year 2013 is almost over, and Americas largest and most financially endowed Muslim civil rights organization has still done NOTHING, that we can see, on the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui! Not even a position statement or press release calling for Aafias freedom and repatriation! The FEAR and paralyzing self-interest that grips the Muslim community in America today (generally speaking) will not make things better. Blocking brothers like Mauri Saalakhan from participation in these large conferences will not increase the safety of the community; it makes us less safe by preventing critically needed voices and perspectives from being heard, while simultaneously conveying a message of division and weakness. InshaAllah, I will be in Atlanta for the Islamophobia Conference....and I will NOT ask to speak. I want my mere presence (coming after this release) to serve as a reminder to ALL that the plight of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui must not be ignored! If she is, you can expect more open criticism to follow! As a student of history, I understand the trend that Ive been experiencing the last few years. (Leaders who wish to distance themselves from me for fear that mere association might get them in trouble with Uncle Sam.) It happened to Robeson, it happened to Malcolm, it happened to Martin - and to many other men and women who were far better than I. By the grace of ALLAH, I long ago embraced the challenge enshined in The Quran (Surah 29; 2): Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, We believe, and that they will not be tested? To the faint-hearted leaders of America (especially the religious leaders bursting with sacred knowledge) the question is, when will YOU? The Anguish of a Grieving Mother Not that long ago (I believe it was Ramadan 1431 AH), I received a heartfelt communication from Pakistan which underscores the huge collateral damage that comes in the wake of this type of oppressive outrage - and Aafias case is just ONE among many! The message came from Aafias mother. Reflect over the message carefully...especially the rhetorical question that comes from the heart of a deeply distressed mother who longs to have her youngest child safely back home in her presence once again. May ALLAH fortify her...and us. The Anguish of a Mother - as communicated by Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui (Aafias sister) She [Aafias mother] is not well, awaiting medicine, but despite high fever saw the news of Obamas Iftar party and asked me, Is there no one amongst the invitee Muslims who would refuse to go because their sister is wrongfully detained and tortured? Their brothers and sisters are suffering due to his discriminatory foreign policy? Is there no one to tell the people who are going to the iftar party that they may be paving their path in a very wrong direction. I fear not for my daughter, but for the fate of our sacred Ummah. I could not stop [the] tears of sorrow after that, and promised to let people in the USA and those who claim to have influence know, she is lying in front of me........ please forward to all you know. ------------------------------------- No other discourse should be needed on this issue. But as a final statement on how important it is that people of conscience be willing to take a principled stand on the issues of the day when needed, no matter how risky the issue may appear to be on the surface (and this especially applies to persons professing faith and conscience), I leave the reader with a thought-provoking page out of history via the link below. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Im Sorry Sir, You Dont Know Me youtube/watch?v=RvymnF-_Pf8
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 04:25:44 +0000
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