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MPV Newsletter

March 2024

Guest Contributor's Note

Do you know what 76 years of oppression feels like?

On November 3rd, 2023 around 10:45 PM, my beloved sister and I were standing at a bus stop with our backpacks along with a
group of people who had all come from their respective walks of life to gather for a late night bus ride, united by a
singular vision. Our designated bus and driver appeared, and we filed onto the bus to take an overnight trip to Washington
D.C., reaching Freedom Plaza in D.C. after a long 8 hours. As I exited the bus, I looked around and noticed that a good
number of the people stepping off our bus were part of the Queer community. I asked my sister why she thought so many Queer
people, like myself, would want to support the freedom of Palestine. She answered, “You all know what oppression feels like
right, then why would you not stand for Palestine?”.

At around 11:00 AM on Saturday November 4th, 2024, the protest began. We were sleep deprived, tired, restless, and waving
Palestinian flags. We listened to speaker after speaker before joining the 400,000 strong march around 3 PM. I am holding
myself up like a strong American Muslim boy, chanting “Free Free Palestine”. I see a group of protestors carrying a long
paper block with the names of innocent humans killed in less than 30 days. I shed a tear. Seconds later, I find myself
sobbing and a shiver passes through my body as if someone is pouring my blood out. Moments later, I can’t breath, I am
bawling, chasing the butcher block paper printed with the names of the victims of this horrific genocide. I am trying to find
the end. I walked a few feet, not finding the end. I continued walking and after 100 or so feet, I reached the end of the
paper block.

I fall on the ground, I can’t see, I can’t breathe, my heart is pounding, I raised my hands in dua and all I can say is:

“Oh Allah, bring us all to peace, bring peace to Palestine, I can’t take this pain anymore, I am hurting, we are all hurting.
I beg You for peace and protection of every single living being and every child who is suffering in Gaza. They are human,
Your creation, and deserve to live in peace like the rest of us. I beg You to stop this pain”.

For the first time I felt a tiny fraction of the pain that my Palestinian siblings live every moment and I can’t breathe.
Maybe I am too sensitive, do you know what 77 years of oppression feels like?

Kandeel Javid

MPV-Boston Director

 

UN Updates

Youth Speak!

We are delighted to partner with Shirakat and Girls First Fund to bring you “Youth Speak! Pakistani Women Against Early
Marriages”, a CSW 68 Parallel Event on March 14th, 2024 from 12:30 - 2 PM ET. For more information, please visit the link
below.

Event Details ( [link removed] )

 

UN Updates

GCEFL's CSW Event: The Economics of Family Law

Please join the Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law ( [link removed] ) on March 13, 2024 for our CSW
Parallel Event, The Economics of Family Law: A Domino Effect on Gender Equality from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM EST at the Church of
Sweden in NYC.

Register Here ( [link removed] )

 

National Updates

Chaplaincy Program

In January 2024, MPV’s Chaplaincy ( [link removed] ) Endorsement Consultant, Syazana Durrani,
participated in the Association of Muslim Chaplain’s Virtual Conference Endorsement Panel. Each representative spoke on the
respective endorsement agency’s institutional assets as well as endorsement processes. The MPV endorsing committee has
recently improved its processes to ensure that applicants are able to highlight their spiritual caregiving strengths while
also upholding MPV’s principles.

Another way the committee is strengthening its pool of knowledge and shared meaning is by inviting interested MPV members to
join the Endorsing committee. We welcome your depth of experience from your own lens of lived lives and professional
expertise to help our applicants grow and be supported by our endorsement. If interested, please email [email protected].

 

Chapter Events & Updates

MPV Boston

MPV-Boston was very delighted to collaborate with Rev. Leah Lyman and Cantor Lisa Doob for an interfaith discussion about
welcoming refugees and new community members to the town of Arlington. We are very thankful for Arlington town for being
proactive and welcoming us to their incredibly progressive community space.

On March 23rd, 2024, MPV-Boston will host their 6th annual Iftar dinner. This dinner will be full of performances, prayers
and more from local Muslims. This Iftar will be dedicated to Palestine and will raise funds for the family of Gazi Faqawi in
Gaza who are affected by the genocide. For this event and upcoming future events, please sign up using our Sign up link ( [link removed] ).

 

Chapter Events

MPV Los Angeles

March 16: Please join the MPV Los Angeles chapter for a Ramadan Iftar at a private residence in Los Angeles (90043 zip code).
RSVP below to receive the exact location and more details about the event.

Join MPV LA ( [link removed] )

 

Chapter Events

MPV Washington DC

March 12 - April 10: As in past years, MPV-DC will host virtual nightly Quran readings during the month of Ramadan in
collaboration with the Atlanta Unity Mosque. The goal is to read the entire Quran by the end of Ramadan. Each night, people
will gather virtually via Zoom and read the Quran for approximately 1 hour. Participants will take turns reading verses from
an English translation of the Quran and the text will be shared on screen. For more information and access details, visit the
MPV-DC meetup page here ( [link removed] ).

March 15: MPV-DC will host an iftar dinner at a local restaurant in DC. For more information, visit the MPV-DC meetup page
here ( [link removed] ).

Join MPV DC ( [link removed] )

 

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Support MPV

Support the Muslim Musical Mosaic Project!

This Ramadan, consider donating your Zakat to help Muslims for Progressive Values create a new Muslim American musical
tradition through the Muslim Musical Mosaic Project ( [link removed] ).

Donate Here ( [link removed] )

 

MPV in the Media

Acacia Mag | Navigating Culture Wars | February 15, 2024

Read Here ( [link removed] )

 

National Updates

Sikh Muslim Marriage Concerns

The latest piece from longtime advocate for pluralism and religious tolerance and an MPV Interfaith Marriage Officiant, Mike
Mohamed Ghouse is now available for purchase on our website. The new piece highlights issues that individuals in a
Muslim-Sikh interfaith relationship may face and similarities between these religious traditions.

Purchase Here ( [link removed] )

 

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