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MPV Newsletter

January 2024

President's Note

In this new year, we have a lot of work to do to marginalize hate, and to bring together the peacemakers, and especially
those who are speaking up within their respective communities against war and for a peaceful resolution. A two-State solution
is the only solution, which if you’ve been paying attention, is not the intention of the Israeli government as they have made
evident ( [link removed] ) on many
occasions over the years.

So instead of asking me, “Do you condemn Hamas?”, ask yourself, “What can I do to bring peace, not just for myself but for my
neighbor too”.

For us at MPV, we welcome partners on this journey and we are happy to discover T'ruah ( [link removed] ), a group of
Rabbis for Human Rights, and many other faith traditions on the same path.

In the many years of work in human rights, one consistent thread is the dehumanization of the other in the name of religion.
In the Israel-Hamas war, that dehumanization is taken on to another level. Israelis calling Gaza a “Black whore" and to "eff’
the whore”, or the annual chanting of killing the Arabs on a religious occasion, all recorded by Israelis themselves, and the
anti-semitism in some Arab communities based on a distorted interpretation of the Quran is well recorded.

For my part, I have been invited to speak at the International Conference on the Dialogue of Civilization, its theme is
“Building Cultures, Nurturing Diversity” in Abu Dhabi (Feb 19-22, 2024). My talk is about inculcating a culture of human
rights through music and the arts as the precursor to the utility of that culture in promoting universal human rights. See
more details below.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas and at the expense of Gazan civilians rages on, thousands of Gazans dead, which
include 9,500 children and 6,000 women ( [link removed] ), and many still buried
under the rubble, and as those who are living are starved, our President continues to arm Israel’s genocide even at the
expense of his own political demise. In the meantime, reports have also surfaced of the war crimes committed by Hamas on
women on October 7th. At the time of writing, zero autopsy have been conducted, as according to Jewish tradition, like Islam,
the dead are to be buried within 24 hours. The eyewitness accounts of Hamas fighter raping women, mutilations of genitals,
and cutting off the breast of one and lopping it off to fellow fighters as if its a ball is utterly sickening. What is
numbing is that these war crimes were the same ones implemented by Zionists in their expulsion of Palestinians during the
first nakba in 1948. Watch testimonials of the violence here ( [link removed] ).

What is it about men in war that victimizes women in the most vile manner?

While all that is happening, here in the U.S., I am officiating interfaith marriages between Muslims and Jews. These young
couples give me hope.

Onward and upward…

Ani Zonneveld,

President & Founder

 

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Board Updates

We're Looking for New Board Members!

Muslims for Progressive Values is delighted to announce that our Board of Trustees is expanding and we’re looking for new
Board Members! Interested individuals should have prior experience working with nonprofits, a familiarity with the Muslim
community, both within the United States and internationally, and a passion for human rights and social justice.

Interested individuals should apply below!

Apply here! ( [link removed] )

 

National Updates

California Humanities

California Humanities has recently announced the Fall 2023 Humanities For All Project Grant awards and Muslims for
Progressive Values is excited to announce that we received funding to begin our Muslim Musical Mosaic Project. MPV will
gather diverse Muslim Americans in Los Angeles to discuss musical ideas, culture, personal stories, and songs - producing a
unique “mosaic” of contemporary Muslim-American Angelino life.

Read the Press Release ( [link removed] )

 

National Updates

The Mosaic Project

Calling all American Muslim Artists based in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas! Are you a Muslim Music Historian,
Musicologist, Musician, Spoken Word Artist, Dancer, Composer, Singer or Fashion Designer?

Join Muslims for Progressive Values for our upcoming Mosaic Project!

Our Mosaic Project is a 3 part series of salons, which will be held from January 2024 through March 2024. The salons will
culminate with a public panel discussion featuring live musical performances in May 2024 and we want you to join us!

For more information, please email your CV (and if you wish, your portfolio) to [email protected] with the subject line
‘Mosaic’.

 

International Updates

IDCT Conference

MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld will be serving as an esteemed keynote speaker at the International Conference on
the Dialogue of Civilization ( [link removed] ) in Abu Dhabi (Feb 19-22, 2024). Join her for enlightening
discussions on fostering global harmony and understanding.

Learn more about the conference and get your tickets below!

Learn More ( [link removed] )

 

International Updates

Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law

Muslims for Progressive Values has the honor of being on the Coordinating Committee of the Global Campaign for Equality in
Family Law ( [link removed] ). In addition to our official launch this past May, the Campaign has had an
incredibly busy year organizing, advocating, and raising awareness. Read more about all the work we’ve done through our Year
in Review.

Read Here! ( [link removed] )

 

Women in Islam Series

The Women in Islam Series is a public education series that demonstrates the compatibility of Islam and feminism and expands
public knowledge on the explicit right that Muslim women have to human rights. Over the series, we'll be publishing 11 pieces
of educational content that promote a woman’s right to bodily autonomy from a progressive Islamic perspective. Check out Part
X on Islam and the Right to Choose: Family Planning.

See Part X ( [link removed] )

 

Support MPV

Donate to MPV this New Year!

Start the year off right by donating your Zakat early to one of Muslims for Progressive Values various initiatives! Your
donation helps to support our international and domestic advocacy initiatives and programming. Make a donation today ( [link removed] )!

Donate here! ( [link removed] )

 

Facebook ( [link removed] )

Twitter ( [link removed] )

Instagram ( [link removed] )
LinkedIn ( [link removed] )

Hey, would you like to see more of MPV in your feed?
Connect with us on our social platforms!

 

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