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The Oldest Progressive Muslim Organization in America |
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How does a bird fly?
I feel like a bird with clipped wings, unable to fly, unable to do what I want, or need to be doing. I’m curtailing my movement, my natural tendencies of hugging people in greetings, a self-censorship that tests my personal discipline. So what is a free bird like me to do?
Channel it into work! In Los Angeles at my home office, I have been recalibrating my energy, my priorities, and work timelines and outputs to make this forced grounding as productive as possible. Instead of slowing down, my team and I have been doubling down our efforts. On March 25, I participated in the digital launching of the Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law. It was a rich presentation by several experts, representatives of global organizations and UN Women. I highly recommend you watch it here. Our MPV-USA national retreat had to be cancelled and instead a virtual conference has been organized for May 2. Our conference on Freedom of Religion and Belief and Gender in Kenya was forced to be postponed. Instead, we have moved up our production of an inclusive curriculum for children in Burundi, the production of a women’s rights toolkit in Kenya, and we are laying the groundwork on research of apostasy and blasphemy cases in Muslim countries.
There is more good news! The transcript Professor Adis Duderija (Griffith University, Australia) and I wrote have been accepted by the publisher and our contribution titled "Transnational Progressive Islam" will be published in a few months. 
MPV’s work has also been referenced and recognized in a few notable publications, notably “In Religious Freedom Under Scrutiny” by Heiner Bielefeldt and Michael Wiener. At the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, Professor Karima Bennoune, reported on the work of cultural rights defenders – human rights defenders who defend cultural rights in accordance with international standards with recommendations on how to protect and support them. The section of her report entitled “Gender and Inclusion in Cultural Life” references MPV’s work in promoting women in religious leadership. Click here to read the full report. Despite COVID-19 there is a lot of good going on in this world. Humanity will rise to the occasion because it is a matter of survival if we don’t. So we will.
So how does a bird fly? By pushing against a strong branch. So fly I will.
Onward and upward…
Ani Zonneveld
President
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- President's Letter
- Chapter Updates
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Chapter Updates
MPV-New York
On March 20 MPV-NY had planned to host the second Friday Prayers of the year, but unfortunately had to cancel due to precautions over COVID19.
As Ramadan approaches, MPV-NY will be hosting a few Zoom gatherings to celebrate the holy month. Sessions will occur after iftar and will provide a safe and anonymous space for participants to share stories of past Ramadans and the toll the current health situation on one’s self, both physically and mentally.
MPV-NY has tentatively planned the following events:
April 24: Zoom meeting: Maghrib Prayer Post Iftar and check in
April 30: Zoom meeting: Informal Taraweh Prayer
For those who need someone to talk to during these trying times, the chapter organizers are here for you, so feel free to reach out at any time via email at [email protected], via Facebook, or Meetup.
MPV-L.A.
Saturday, April 11, 1:15 - 3:30 p.m.: We'll be having our next MPV Quran Reading Group over Zoom. As usual, we read over a passage and explore progressive/contextualist approaches to the text, enriching this endeavor with the diversity of our own personal experiences and understandings. This time, we'll delve into and grapple with the Quran's Lot narrative, focusing on passages from Surah Hijr 15:57-77 and Surah Shu'ara 26:160-175. We'll also cross reference the narratives from 11:77-83, 54:34-40, 29:28-35, 7:80-84, 27:54-58, as well as discuss queer perspectives on the text.
Here's the Zoom link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/689399279
Meeting ID: 689 399 279
April 23: Ramadan begins. All community gatherings have been cancelled for the month and are on a wait and see for May.
MPV-Boston
On March 6 MPV-Boston held a book review for
Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftin. Abdi Nor Iftin is a radio journalist, public speaker and author. Call Me American, is the true story of his heroic survival in war-ravaged Mogadishu and his incredible journey to a new life in America. Abdi Iftin is a proud Somali American. Abdi was honored to join MPV-Boston community and appreciated our work. His experience of seeing Somalia from a moderate and peaceful Muslim nation to sharia enforced by Alshabab and it’s adverse impacts on Muslims. While he saw this shift living in Somali, he experienced a shift in America from warm and welcoming to Trump's Travel Ban for Somalis.
On March 15, MPV-Boston collaborated with a U.S. wide circle of LGBTQA* supporting parties and families of South Asian diaspora, Desi Rainbow Parents And Allies. Queer identified Muslims, Siblings, and allies joined this video conferencing to share their experinces and importance of family inclusion which is still underway for many progressives Muslims. A video recording for this conference can be found on this Youtube Link.
On April 3 MPV-Boston held a book review for The Rumi’s prescription by an Iranian American author, Melody Moezzi at Harvard book store who is a contributing member of the MPV-Boston community. This event will be held on Zoom. On April 10 MPV- Boston hosted “Muslims Love for All . This event is to educate people about harsh marginalization of Ahmadiyya muslims by embellishing the light of love in the practice. This event will be held virtually via video conferencing.
MPV-D.C.
On March 22, MPV-DC hosted a virtual halaqa and on March 28, MPV-DC members participated in the virtual book reading hosted by MPV-LA of the book Qur’an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective, by Dr. Amina Wadud.
On April 12, MPV-DC will host another virtual halaqa.
MPV-Atlanta
Fridays: The space where we meet will be closed at least through the end of April, in the meantime MPV-Atlanta will meet from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. EDT online using Zoom. We will post the information on Facebook, Meetup and in our WhatApp group. If you would like the information and are not on social media, please email [email protected].
March 20 Khutbah: https://youtu.be/uPSXU__G_qs
Fridays and Sundays: MPV-Atlanta friends, Kaleemi Khanqah Atlanta will meet online Fridays at 6pm ET and Sundays at 9:00 p.m. EDT. Email [email protected] for details.
April 18: MPV-Atlanta will hold our monthly gathering online. Details to come. Email [email protected] if you would like to attend
MPV-San Francisco
On March 15, MPV-San Francisco moved our monthly meeting online to Zoom.April 19: MPV-San Francisco will tentatively have a Zoom meeting from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. pending more member input. If you are interested in joining, check our Meetup Group or email [email protected]
The Muslim Solidarity Group of Santa Cruz has invited us to speak at an Iftar on May 16 health precautions permitting.
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