While everyone is off during the holidays, our partner Imam
Khalfan of Burundi was lethally poisoned
The Oldest Progressive Muslim Organization in America
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How to Put Yourself Out of Business
Yes we have turned the page on 2020, but rest assured 2021 will
have its challenges. As we transition to a new “normal,” we need
to rethink how we as individuals should live that out, and the
policies we should fight for.
Since March 2020 my wardrobe has consisted primarily of tights,
t-shirts, a handful of blouses for some meetings. For the early
5:00 a.m. conference calls, I would still be in my pajamas,
with no makeup. Frankly, I love this very minimalist way of
living. It also reminded me of my daughter’s school trip to a
Californian Catholic missionary post some 13 years ago. The folks
then wore the same set of clothes all week, and on Sunday would
have a fresh set of clothes for church service while their work
clothes were washed and hung to dry.
Yes, I know that is too extreme, but can you imagine how much
better our environment would be if we consumed less of
everything?
The children picking cotton in Turkey could be in school,
instead; the Uighers of China would not be enslaved at factories
to provide “fast fashion” for mostly Western consumers. We would
spare water and energy, not to mention landfills, since most fast
fashion items are trashed after a few wears.
I am very aware that being able to ponder the cycle of
consumerism and its harms is itself a luxury. I have not
suffered a loss of income or a year of schooling, lining up at
food pantries, being cooped up with an abusive family member, or
mourning the death of a loved one. But our lifestyles prior to
COVID-19 are unsustainable and if anything has contributed to an
unjust system.
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So, as a human rights organization, how do I put myself and MPV
out of business? One way is to allow the elimination of
progressive Muslims by our radical counterparts. While everyone
is off during the holidays, our partner Imam Khalfan of Burundi
was lethally poisoned with arsenic. This is their third attempt.
Those who follow our #ImamsForShe movement will know how
devastating this is to our work. Please consider donating to
cover his medical costs—without money he cannot be treated and
will die. For your convenience, I’ve created a dedicated GoFundMe
( [link removed] ) for him.
Alternatively, we can fight back by continuing to promote and
inculcate a culture rooted in human rights.
Toward that, in partnership with an early child development
expert, we have developed an inclusive Islam curriculum rooted in
human rights for children ages 2-6. It takes only 10 years to
effectively create this cultural shift. It is a small investment
compared to how much we spend on the military, the cost of
rebuilding knowing full well that emotional harm and trauma
cannot be rebuilt.
For months we’ve promoted masks and social distancing to spare
many the pain of illness. We’ve heard it preached that
“prevention is better than the cure.” I wish our policy makers
and funders would see the deeper wisdom in that proverb. By that
same token that we take measures to prevent disease, I wish we
would take measures to prevent human rights violations. MPV is
committed to creating that paradigm shift. How committed are you?
Without a culture of human rights, our “new normal” will be more
of the same old same old. Unfortunately there is no quick
vaccination for this!
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and when I see you in 2021, be
ready for a big bear hug from me!
Onward and upward…
Ani Zonneveld
Recommended Reading
Paris Conference Notebooks
Records of the Paris Conference have been published. The
conference was co-organized by UNESCO and the association Islam
in the 21st Century, held on February 26 and 27 2019. The
conference brought around thirty scholars and religious leaders
part of a biennial conference to be held in Paris. The purpose of
the conference was to give Muslim leaders a voice in discussing
new approaches to religion, addressing not only theological
subjects but also questions that impact the daily life of Muslims
and non-Muslims alike on matters of freedom of conscience, gender
equality, intercultural and interfaith diversity, secularism,
hierarchy of sacred and secular norms, the veil, burqa etc. This
book should be of interest to the EU and especially French policy
makers.
You can purchase your copy here ( [link removed] ) in
French, Arabic and English.
Progressive Islam, by Imam Daayiee Abdullah
MPV’s Advisory Board member Imam Daayiee Abdullah is releasing a
new book, titled Progressive Islam. The book discusses major
aspects of progressive Islam and discusses Islam in its Chinese,
Saudi, and Egyptian contexts to provide a diverse perspective.
According to the author, the book is “a celebration of Islam”.
Pre-order your copy here ( [link removed] )!
U.N. Updates
Stand by for more information on MPV’s panel on our work in
reforming the Kadhi Court in Kenya at the Commission on the
Status of Women in March. We will feature our partners, highlight
the legal language, the toolkit we developed and our approach to
empowering the Kadhi court, the judicial system, and the
womenfolk.
National Updates
Celebration of Life
On International Human Rights Day we raised over $10,300 dollars
thanks to the appearances and performances of Attorney General
Keith Ellison, Special Rapporteur Karima Bennoune, Leila Milki,
Amira, Danielle Lopresti and Sophia Alone, who is also the event
producer, and host Ahmed el-Din! You can watch the full event
here ( [link removed] ) and if you feel compelled to give, we could use it!
Chapter Updates
MPV-LA
January 19, 8:30 a.m. PST: Join 50+ faith organizations of which
MPV is also a member, at this annual breakfast event in
celebrating Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr.'s birthday.
With the words and wisdom of the Reverend Naomi Tutu, the voices
of Dr. King's children and grandchild, the prayers and comments
of fellow ISN clergy, and the moving and messaged music of youth
and choirs, we will indeed be inspired to continue the justice
and equity work of Dr. King. Please RSVP for yourself here ( [link removed] ).
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To join MPV-LA events please visit our Meetup page ( [link removed] ).
MPV-NY
On December 23, MPV-NY and MPV-DC held a joint community
gathering. The event, titled “CommuniTEA Hangout,” was the final
event of the year for both gatherings and served as decompresser
as we all headed into the new year. Members and leaders shared
their thoughts and feelings on the previous year and what we hope
to accomplish in 2021. It was a special space and MPV-NY looks
forward to continuing such events in the new year.
( [link removed] )On January 17, members of MPV-NY
and MPV-Orlando will be co-facilitating a conversation with
author, scholar, and artist Karimah Rahman about Muslim
Indo-Caribbean spaces, history, and identity. Karimah is
currently a PhD candidate at Ryerson University in Toronto,
Canada, where she focuses the intersectional marginalization,
lack of representation and Anti-Muslim Racism towards Muslim
Indo-Caribbeans in Indo-Caribbean, Indentured Diasporic, Indian
and South Asian spaces. Registration for the event is available
by emailing
[email protected] or by visiting the link in our
Instagram bio ( [link removed] ).
MPV-Boston
On December 4, MPV-Boston hosted a virtual holiday event,
“Muslims for Christmas.” This event was viewed by 200+ folks on
social media. First hour of this event was attended by our guest
Muslim-Christian interfaith couple, Abdul Majeed and Carolina.
Interfaith couples shared their beautiful journey of learning
about each other in the process of learning about each other’s
faiths. After guest speakers, multiple interfaith families shared
how MPV chapters have been a great community to their holidays
celebrations from Eid al-Adha to Christmas and more.
( [link removed] )
MPV-Boston wrapped up the year 2020 with 15 incredible programs.
In January 2021, MPV-Boston will restructure the chapter board.
If interested, email us for more details ( [link removed] ).
MPV-Orlando
MPV-Orlando is looking to expand their leadership team, as well
as develop their community network. If interested, please e-mail:
[email protected].
MPV in the Media
Crooked | The Military is Watching You Pray ( [link removed] )
| December 4, 2020
Le Journal du Dimanche | Le combat d'Eva Janadin et Anne-Sophie
Monsinay, les deux premières femmes imames de France ( [link removed] ) | December 6, 2020
In This Issue:
* President's Greeting
* Recommended Reading
* U.N. Updates
* National Updates
* Chapter Updates
* MPV in the Media
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