MPV's activities have intensified...

The Oldest Progressive Muslim Organization in America

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Institutionalizing Progressive Islam

Despite the comeback of COVID-19, MPV’s activities have
intensified, with some major outcomes to share.

First, our legal activism seems to be bearing fruit.

In advance of the decision made by the US Supreme Court in
Bostock v. Clayton County, MPV’s Board member Adeel Mangi ( [link removed] ) spearheaded the filing of
anamicus brief ( [link removed] ). He had the following to say about the Supreme Court’s decision
on on Title VII : “We are delighted that the Court heard the
voice of MPV and other Muslim groups that filed an amicus brief
in support of construing Title VII to defend the civil rights of
the LGBTQ+ community. In this environment, all communities under
attack must stand up for each other—only then can we make
progress together.” Coincidentally, MPV’s co-Chair Kevin
Jenning’s organization LAMBDA Legal led the charge in the suit. A
huge win for them and for human rights for all.

MPV also contributed an amicus brief related to Louisiana’s
abortion restrictions, which the Supreme Court struck down this
month, protecting the rights of women to reproductive justice.

Meanwhile, I am overseeing the development of the toolkit toward
reforming the Kadhi Court in Kenya, and an Inclusive Islam
Curriculum in Burundi for children ages 5-12. Both projects are
progressing really well, so well that the Foreign Ministry of The
Netherlands was kind enough to promote the curriculum project on
their social media page.

An update on a few benchmark: I am officially a member of the
prestigious think-tank Council on Foriegn Relations, which was
over a year in the making.

In the last few years, MPV’s work has been documented in various
academic publications. A new one I discovered by chance is Rumee
Ahmad’s book Sharia Compliant: A User’s Guide to Hacking Sharia
Law. And, I co-authored a chapter with Professor Adis Duderija
titled “Transnational Progressive Islam: Theory, Networks”, and
Lived Experience, in Ronald Lukens-Bull and Mark Woodward (Eds):
Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives, Springer. In
this chapter I covered MPV’s work, the globalization of our
values and the launching of Alliance of Inclusive Muslims. You
can read the full chapter here ( [link removed] ).

Here is the abstract for the chapter:
This chapter provides a snapshot outline of the theory, networks,
and lived experiences of transnational progressive Islam and the
major milestones and developments associated with it over the
last decade and a half. In the first part of the article, a broad
overview of the major themes underpinning progressive Muslim
thought is presented. In the subsequent parts, the discussion
centers on recounting and analyzing the lived experiences of what
it means to be a progressive Muslim. More specifically, the
historical context in which progressive Muslim organizations have
emerged noting their increasing transnational character is
described. The chapter also emphasizes the kinds of issues
progressive Muslim organizations have been engaged in and
significant challenges they have faced in embodying the kinds of
values and practices they consider to be the ideals and normative
teachings of the Islamic faith which often are at odds with the
mainstream approaches to these teachings. The authors conclude
that transnational progressive Islam has found a firm place in
the rich medley of contemporary Islamic movements and
intellectual streams.
No longer can any government, institution or individual deny the
embodiment and lived realities of Progressive Islam.

Onward and upward . . .

Ani Zonneveld

National Updates

In Case You Missed It!

3 women from 3 different faith communities on a wonderful Council
on Foreign Relations' "Faith and Social Justice" panel. We were
able to address patriarchy, supremacy, All Black Lives Matter,
Title VII, and some! Join Ani Zonneveld as president of Muslims
for Progressive Values and newly minted Council on Foreign
Relations (CFR) member in conversation, with Reverend Najuma
Smith-Pollard (program manager of the University of Southern
California’s Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement), and
Ruth Messinger (current global ambassador of American Jewish
World Service), on this lively panel chaired by Irina Faskianos
(Vice President for National Program and Outreach, CFR). Please
watch ( [link removed] ) and share.

July 11, 5:00 p.m. EDT: 2020 Young Jain of America (YJA)
Convention

Join MPV’s President Ani Zonneveld and co-panelists Simran Jeet
Singh (Becoming Less Racist), Anjli Shah (Jains for Justice), and
Hari Venkatachalam (Sadhana). For more details please visit YJA
website ( [link removed] ).

July 21, 3:00 p.m. New York EDT: World Parliament of Religions

Join the Parliament of World’s Religions on a virtual panel
"Faith Perspectives on Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Faith
Spaces". On the panel are: Vyda Ng (Executive Director of the
Canadian Unitarian Council), Michael Schuenemeyer (Executive of
the Office for Health and Wholeness Advocacy of Wider Church
Ministries), Rabbi Becky Silverstein (Rabbi/Founder of Beyn
Kodesh l’Chol), Ani Zonneveld (Founder, president Muslims for
Progressive Values). Moderated by Bruce Knox (Director of the
Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations).

August 1, 2020: Eid al-Hajj Service and Celebration with Dr.
Amina Wadud, The Lady Imam

Thanks to the positive community response to the Eid al-Fitri
Service and Celebration, El-Tawhid Juma Circle (ETJC): The Unity
Mosque and Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) are coming
together to celebrate Eid al-Hajj via Zoom on August 1, 2020.
Please RSVP here ( [link removed] ).

We are honored and excited to announce that Dr. Amina Wadud, The
Lady Imam will be our imam and khateeb.

The Quran enjoins the Hajj on all believers. Eid al-Hajj is the
celebration at the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage season. The Hajj
is the sunnah (tradition) of Sayeedina Hajjar (phuh). Pilgrims
re-enact Hajjar’s quest for water for herself and her amanah
(trust), her baby Ismail (pbuh), by running between the hills of
Safa and Marwa. According to traditions of Sayeedina Muhammad
(pbuh), the angel Gabriel came to her, and gave her the gift of
the waters of Zamzam, which continue to flow today, as well as
knowledge of things to be.

The stories of Ibrahim, Hajjar and Ismail, peace be upon them
all, illuminate the amanah that is placed upon those who parent.
Hajjar defies the desolate desert against all odds for the life
of her child. Years later, Ibrahim (attempts to) enact his vision
only after his and Hajjar’s son, Ismail, willfully choses to do
so. Their examples, and this Eid celebration underscore that our
children are our amanat, not our possessions or our property.

Hajjar (pbuh) is a story of a defiant, non-conformist outcast
Black African woman who survived and excelled. The prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) is reported to have called her an ideal
immigrant. Hajjar was an active agent of social change; an
environmentalist and water-protector; a single mother who ensured
a life and future for her child; an enslaved royal who built a
city; and is the spiritual mother to billions.

Sayeedina Hajjar’s story is the promise of a better tomorrow.
This Eid celebrates her, single mothers, single caregivers, and
all those who nurture and parent.

Chapter Updates

MPV-LA
July 25, 1:00 p.m. PDT: The MPV-LA Book Club will discuss Lesley
Hazleton's book The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad. Although
we prefer to support local bookstores, if you do purchase on
Amazon, please do so through Amazon Smile ( [link removed] ) and select Muslims for Progressive
Values as your non-profit of choice. Amazon donates a percentage
of all purchases to your designated charity. To join the
discussion, check out the details here ( [link removed] ).

MPV-NY

On June 17, to create more visibility and communication, MPV-NY
and the progressive Hindu organization Sadhana ( [link removed] ) hosted a joint panel featuring
progressive South Asian and Indo-Caribbean political candidates
running for public office in New York City. Moderators focused on
asking questions about policing and the criminal legal system;
immigration; racial and religious supremacy in the USA and
abroad; and economic challenges in the age of Covid-19.
Candidates from various political races joined us, including:

* Joy Chowdhury (D): D-34, State Assembly Member; Queens;

* Richard David (D): D-31, State Assembly Member; Queens;

* Shahana Hanif (D): D-39, City Council Member; Brooklyn;

* Suraj Patel (D): NY-12, Congressional Representative; and

* Felicia Singh (D): D-32, City Council Member; Queens.

Over the past two weeks, MPV-NY has been working to find a new
board member to join the team. They have been delighted to speak
with a variety of individuals, all possessing unique skills and
perspectives on what progressive values entail and what they
would contribute to the team. Because the team received a
delightfully overwhelming amount of applications, MPV-NY has
decided to bring two fresh faces into the fold: Asma and Nimra.
They are excited to start spending the next few weeks getting
their handle on chapter operations and organizing community
events.

MPV-DC

On June 19, MPV-DC participated in a Juneteenth service and
janaza for Sarah Hegazy hosted by the Toronto el-Tawhid Jummah
Circle (Unity Mosque) and MPV-Atlanta.

On June 30, MPV-DC, along with other MPV chapters, participated
in the first National Queer Youth of Faith Day (#QYFDay). #QYFDay
is the first national multi-faith celebration of queer youth from
all religious backgrounds. Launched on June 30, the last day of
Pride, #QYFDay has a simple message to youth: Take pride in all
of who you are, including your gender identity, sexuality,
ethnicity, and faith! #QYFDay was organized byBeloved Arise ( [link removed] ), a Christian nonprofit dedicated to
celebrating and empowering LGBTQIA+ youth and actively seeking
other faith traditions and organizations to celebrate and promote
#QYFDay.

On June 30, a #QYFDay party was streamed as a virtual event
through Beloved Arise’s Instagram ( [link removed] ), featuring youth
speakers, essay winners of Beloved Arise’s essay contest, and
musicians such as Trey Pearson, a GLAAD Award nominated musician,
and Brian Falduto who will release an official theme song and
music video ( [link removed] ). MPV is proud to
co-sponsor this important event.

Also on June 30, MPV-DC participated, as it does each year, in
the DC Pride Interfaith Service. This year, the service took
place virtually and MPV-DC member Nabeel Kirmani represented MPV
at the service.

In July, MPV-DC will be hosting additional virtual gatherings.
Details can be found here ( [link removed] ).

MPV-Boston

On June 20, 2020, MPV-Boston organized a virtual event, Muslims
for Black Lives. This event was broken down into two segments.
For the first part, Abdi Nor Iftin ( [link removed] ), the author of Call me American
( [link removed] ) shared his incredible story
of being black, Muslim and a naturalized American of a Somali
heritage. For the second half of this event, an honored Lawyer,
Nour Sualiman, shared the details of embedded systemic racism in
the judiciary system in America and potential fixes for these
problems. MPV-Boston has taken initiatives to work on challenging
the anti-black narratives among our networks and local levels.

On June 26, 2020, MPV-Boston organized a friendly trivia game
night, Pride Mubarak. This event was a community event to bring
all LGBTQ+ Muslims, Allies and family members in one space to
enjoy a night of drag. Trivia was conducted in a fun, with focus
on educating folks about incredible work of LGBTQ+ Muslims in the
West. Attendees enjoyed this game night with our very beautiful
drag queens who also educated the audience of LGBTQ+ Muslims from
the incredible work of Ani Zonneveld and her lecture series with
Imam Daayieh to the involvement of Blair Imani in the World Pride
in NYC in 2019. This event can be found on our YouTube channel
or by clicking this link ( [link removed] ).
Performers are active leader in a local LGBTQ+ youth, North Shore
Alliance of GLBTO Youth ( [link removed] ).

MPV-Boston has officially partnered with the Greater Boston
Interfaith Organization ( [link removed] ) to improve
housing and healthcare, reform our criminal justice system,
address racial disparities in our city, and rebuild schools and
neighborhoods, among other issues.​

In the month of August, MPV-Boston is planning to have a socially
distant celebration of Eid al-Adha. The event is still being
planned. Please follow our Facebook page ( [link removed] ) for more details.

MPV in the News

NBC News | Filipino American who had strict religious upbringing
launches Queer Youth of Faith Day ( [link removed] ) | June 30, 2020

"Beloved Arise, a Christian group that celebrates and empowers
LGBTQ youth of faith . . . To mark Pride Month, the group is
hosting a Queer Youth of Faith Day on Tuesday to celebrate LGBTQ
youth from all faiths. Along with several cosponsors, Beloved
Arise will use the event to affirm youth and let them know they
are loved for exactly who they are . . . Maliha Khan, director of
the Washington, D.C., chapter of Muslims for Progressive Values,
another cosponsor, said LGBTQ people are a big part of the
community her group serves, and she welcomed the opportunity to
collaborate."

5 Pillars UK | American Muslims demand end to police
discrimination and violence ( [link removed] ) | June, 2020

"The joint statement, organised by Muslim Wellness Foundation and
Muslim Advocates, brings together a vast cross-section of Muslim
community organisations in support of Black Muslims, Black Lives
Matter and major policing reforms amid the ongoing, nationwide
protests following the murder of George Floyd and other Black
victims"

In This Issue:
* President's Greeting
* National Updates
* Chapter Updates
* MPV in the Media

Quick links:
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About MPV ( [link removed] )
Our Communities ( [link removed] )
#ImamsForShe ( [link removed] )
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