The European Islam movement continues to grow with two
more institutions launched

The Oldest Progressive Muslim Organization in America

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European Islam Movement

Here in America, tertiary education can break your bank. The
reason I want to share this story is because, despite the worst
circumstances, there are always those with a vision for solutions
to an epic problem: the lack of medical students from poor
families, and for primary care, a medical field that is not
lucrative.

What is inspiring is this news segment on 60 Minutes ( [link removed] ), about the philanthropic efforts of New York University (NYU)
Board members to provide free tuition for ALL its medical
students. All.

I dream of the day when I, like many medical students, can focus
on doing my work, not worrying about MPV sustaining itself. In
our effort to reach a more secure future, we have a new Director
of Planned Giving, Mr. Anwar Bhamla. His role will be to help
organize and improve MPV’s fundraising abilities. In the long
run, Anwar hopes to raise enough funds to set up an endowment.
This will allow MPV to carry on with its primary objectives,
without having to worry about fundraising.
n
Specifically for the U.S., Anwar is encouraging a tax-efficient
way for retired individuals to increase their financial
contribution to MPV. He would like to encourage all MPV
supporters in retirement to take advantage of this. For details,
click here ( [link removed] ) or contact
him at [email protected].

Our progressive movement continues to grow and on September 7th
in Paris, I was invited to help launch a new inclusive mosque,
the Simorgh Mosque, led by two friends Anne-Sophie Monsinay and
Eva Janadin. Packed into a room were 70 people of diverse
background made up of converts to Islam, and those of African and
Arab decent. Most of the women prayed uncovered or with a shawl
thrown over in a loose fashion. Media coverage was intentionally
limited and controlled. The program included introducing the
purpose and theological reason for such an inclusive French
prayer space, sermon, early afternoon prayer, a theological
discussion with the congregation, zikir and the late afternoon
prayer led by myself.

Also in Europe, the EU Institute of Islam has been launched by
Michael Privot Perso of Belgium, which in the future will provide
a degree of Bachelors, Masters, Chaplaincy, and an Imamship
training, toward institutionalizing a European Islam.

These new establishments are in addition to others already
established in France, German, the Netherlands, and the U.K.

On a global scale, membership of the umbrella organization
Alliance of Inclusive Muslims ( [link removed] ) (AIM) has
continued to grow. We recently had an election in which the new
board is as follows: Ms. Ulfat Hussein Masibo (Kenya, President),
Imam Khalfan (Burundi, Vice President), Ms. Sherine Albanhawy
(Egypt-Canada, Secretary), Ms. Ani Zonneveld (USA, Treasurer),
and Mr. Frej Fennich (Tunisia-Swiss, Advisor to the Board). AIM
continues to advocate for human rights for all particular on the
issue of freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief,
and against apostasy and blasphemy laws.

Onward and upward...

Ani Zonneveld

Pictured: The Simorgh Mosque team and friends in Paris

In This Issue:
* President's Letter
* U.N. Update
* National Update
* Chapter Updates
* MPV in the News

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

U.N. Update

Human Rights Council, 42nd Session - Geneva

Please join MPV at our side-event titled: "Pre-colonial Societies
on Gender and Sexuality: A Hindu, Muslim and Indigenous Peoples'
Perspective." Our panelist consists of Ludovic Mohammed Zahed
(Algeria-France, Islam), Manisha Dhakal (Nepal, Hindu), Dr Yvette
Abrahams (South Africa, traditional African religion) and
moderated by Ani Zonneveld (Muslims for Progressive Values).

Date: September 12, 2019

Time: 10:00 a.m. (GMT+2)

Room: XVI

Co-organizer: GIN-SSOGIE
Co-sponsors: Permanent Missions of South African and Iceland

National Update

Save the Date: Celebration of Life!

Save the date for our first Celebration of Life in Washington DC
on November 22, 2018. Confirmed honoree Ms. Bochra Bel Haj Hmida
for her human rights work in Tunisia, Mahmoud Mohammad Taha
(Sudan), Masih Alinejad (Iran), and the many Saudi women in jail
for their human rights activism. Rushan Abbas will be speaking on
the treatment of the Uyghur community in China and we will be
confirming additional speakers soon.

MPV-LA

MPV-LA held a strategy session in planning its activities for the
coming year, fortifying our structure with the addition of two
new positions in IT and Planned Giving. Looking ahead is a
retreat for mixed faith couples and their children for which MPV
has conducted many.

Pictured to the Right (L-R): Yaseen Nisar (LGBTQ Advocate), Mete
Kural (IT), Anwar Bhamla (Planned Giving) and Ani Zonneveld
(President)

MPV-D.C.

On August 25, MPV-DC hosted a film screening of ‘Prince Among
Slaves.’

September 8: MPV-DC members are getting together for some hiking
in Georgetown followed by lunch. Later in the month, MPV-DC
members will meet up for a group dinner.

MPV-NY

On August 9, MPV-NY hosted a Friday Jum’a Prayer and had an
excellent discussion on what sacrifice means. Participants
reflected on their own experiences with Eid al-Adha and what it
would be to have a progressive approach towards the animal
sacrifice. Overall, participants discussed alternate ways of
observing the sacrifice through a more humane manner.

September 6: MPV-NY will be hosting a Friday Jum’a Prayer and an
Interfaith Potluck. Members of all faith based communities are
encouraged to attend. In addition to the Interfaith potluck, a
producer of a documentary called "About Us" will be present to
film this event. The documentary is covering types of encounters
in the world where different faith groups are building mutual
respect together in the society where they live in. In 2018-19,
they have been in several different countries to identify strong
stories where people, despite their differences, were able to
"meet the others," build trust and understanding, and finally
were able to not only live together but "do" together i.e.,
develop projects.To participate and get more information, please
sign up either through MPV-NY event page ( [link removed] ) or
MPV-NY Meetup ( [link removed] ).

MPV-Boston

On August 10, MPV-Boston hosted a second Eid al-Adha service. The
service featured prayer and street outreach. A strong khutbah
(sermon) was delivered on topics such as Muslims in interfaith
dialogue, conflict resolution, science and Islam, contributions
of Muslim scholars, and LGBTQIA+ oppression within traditionalist
Muslim communities. After service, a mixed gender Salat al-Eid
(Eid Prayer) was held for the first time in the greater Boston
area, attracting attendees from as far as Connecticut. All
members contributed in making lunch bags for the local Boston
community, which were served to the homeless in public spaces and
local shelters.

Starting September, MPV-Boston will meet every first Friday of
the month from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. for monthly potluck and prayers.
MPV-Boston would like to have various speakers for each potluck
to share their journeys of progressiveness and knowledge of
inclusiveness in Islam.

MPV in the News

Scientific American | Failure to Condemn: A Global Health Crisis
Targeting Women Affects Us Here ( [link removed] ) | September 5, 2019

The Atlantic | Ilhan Omar’s Opportunity
The Minnesota congresswoman could take a bolder stand for some of
her most vulnerable constituents ( [link removed] ) | August 26, 2019

National Catholic Reporter | Faith groups urge State Department
to abolish new 'unalienable rights' commission ( [link removed] )| July 25, 2019

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