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MPV Newsletter
February 2022
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Over the years one of MPV’s tag lines was “An Islam for the 21st Century”. 15 years on, more and more scholars of Islam and activists are also moving in this same direction. At a conference in Paris entitled “Islam XXII Conference: Living Islam in the 21st century - "Islam and Identities: Between Worship and Cultures" the questions being discussed and reflected on will include ‘How do we apply a universalist and human rights framing of Islam?’ and ‘How do we live it out rather than just treat it as a theory and as an abstract concept?’. Here’s the description of my presentation:
There is no point in learning about the sharia al-maqasid, the idealistic values of the Qur’an if Muslims don’t put it into practice. Since 2006, I have been applying the progressive interpretations of the Qur’an as documented by the philosophers and theologians of old and new into practical terms, making it accessible to the general public for the purpose of positively affecting peoples’ lives and in practical terms. From human rights frameworks, to spiritual songs, to the way we worship, an egalitarian imam structure, and interfaith marriages especially between a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim men, my presentation will document how I’ve
created the basis for a culture of Islam that is as pure to the spirit of the Qur’an as possible, and only hadiths that support it, toward inculcating a culture rooted in human rights in Muslim societies.
I am happy to have been invited to speak and I invite you all to attend this free forum either in person or virtually. Please check out the details below.
On February 8th, I will be a speaker at the Council on Foreign Relations countering violent extremism virtual round-table "Imams for Women’s Rights: Inoculating Against Extremism", and chaired by Farah Pandith. One indicator of a society succumbing to extremist ideology is the absence of women and girls in public spaces. Across several continents, people are rejecting that status quo, seeking a better and more open society. #ImamsForShe aims to use Islam to promote women’s rights and in turn inoculate against extremism. I will share success stories of preventing extremism by using soft power. This is round-table is for members and by invitation only.
In the last few months, I’ve been busy overseeing the production of a video series promoting the message of the UN Women's Generation Equality Forum’s focus on women’s bodily autonomy and economic independence. For us at MPV, we believe that a woman’s economic independence and participation in society is hinged on her right to bodily autonomy, that is her sexual, reproductive, and health rights. To elevate awareness of this issue, we collaborated with and funded our partner organizations in Malaysia, Pakistan, Tunisia, Kenya, Burundi and our global partner Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM) to produce a total of 10 videos. Please check out the videos and share.
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Onward and upward…
Ani Zonneveld
Founder, President
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Check out the program for the two-day conference below and register for free here.
How are Muslims reinventing their Islam in our time? Challenging social and family pressures, affirmation of a right to personal interpretation, internalization of religious norms; the daily arrangements of worship by Muslims are numerous and a growing number of progressive and liberal contemporary Muslim thinkers are evaluating new theology in Islam. It is now becoming possible to practice this religion independently, as a universal spirituality that can adapt to all cultures without losing the essential tenor of its values.
Mohammed Hashas: (associate researcher in Islamology at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient in Berlin, member of the Department of Political Science at the University of Rome), “Islam, Homo Moralis, and the challenge of losing contact with the divine”
Mattias Rosenfeldt: (PhD student in Islamic theology and sociology of religions at Uppsala University), “Progressive Islam in theory and practice: implications for European Muslim identities”
Steven Duarte: (associate Arab, doctor in Islamology and lecturer at the Sorbonne Paris Nord University), “Liberal Islam and its Jewish otherness: an ambitious challenge”
Francis Messner: (emeritus research director at the CNRS and approved professor at the University of Strasbourg), "Religious policies in the cultural transmission of Islam: the example of the creation of faculties of Muslim theology and institutes of Islamology in Europe”
Ani Zonneveld: (Founder of Muslims for Progressive Values, Treasurer of the Alliance of Inclusive Muslims and Imam in Los Angeles), “Put 'true Islam' into practice”
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We are happy to announce that we have two parallel events at the 66th Committee on the Status of Women (CSW). You can watch the panel on our Facebook and YouTube channels and we’ll have updated links for March’s newsletter.
March 22, 10 AM EST / 6 PM EAT: #ImamsForShe: Women's and Girls' Rights Champion
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On the panel you'll have the opportunity to learn from experts of Muslim women’s rights working in the field across three African Muslim communities - Uganda, Burundi and Mali, on expanding access to reproductive health services, economic empowerment, and access to entrepreneurial opportunities.
Keynote Speaker:
H.E. Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti of Uganda
Panelists:
Imam Khalfan, Founder and President of Alliance des Imams du Corridor Nord pour le Developpement Humanitaire (AICNDH) in Burundi, AIM’s Global Director of #ImamsForShe
Sheikh Kassoum Coulibaly, Founder and President of Global Institute for Women’s Empowerment Group, AIM’s Global Director of Sexual, Reproductive & Health Rights
Nabukeera Sulaini: Trainer & Coordinator at the Ugandan Muslim Supreme Council Headquarter’s Tailoring Center
Moderator:
Ulfat Hussein Masibo, President of Africa Muslim Women’s Alliance Network (AMWAN), Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM)
Closing Statement:
Ani Zonneveld, Founder & President of MPV, Founder & Treasurer of AIM
March 23, 12 PM EST / 8 PM EAT: "Inclusive Islam Curriculum Rooted in Human Rights for Children"
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We believe human rights abuses will continue unabated unless, and until, societies themselves are inculcated in the values of inclusivity, egalitarianism, and justice. Our panel is made up of two human rights defenders and an early childhood development expert. Together the panelists will offer insight into two different curriculums: one developed for Muslims in the West and the second developed specifically for the Muslim community in Burundi. We will share the outlines of the curriculums, specific lessons, and teaching techniques for the targeted geographic demographics. We believe it will take just 8 years of consistent exposure to a well developed human rights framework for the affected children to be imbued with these values. If you are interested in a solution, please join us. There will be ample time for Q&A at the end of the panel.
Panelists:
Shaleena Tareen, Founder of Childhood Matters, author of Inclusive Islam Curriculum Rooted in Human Rights for Children
Ani Zonneveld, Founder & President of MPV, Founder & Treasurer of AIM, Author of Inclusive Islam Curriculum: Rooted in Human Rights for Children
Imam Khalfan, Founder and President of Alliance des Imams du Corridor Nord pour le Developpement Humanitaire (AICNDH) in Burundi, Alliance of Inclusive Muslims’ Global Director of #ImamsForShe
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Check out our new store and for national and chapter events, check our calendar here. |
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Progressive Islam in Practice |
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Over the past few month’s MPV has been committed to making information about Progressive Islam more accessible to our community. The Progressive Islam in Practice Series is a manifestation of this campaign and as a result, we’ve helped to educate the community on topics from feminist readings of the Qur’an, abortion rights in Islam, issues of child and forced marriages, to the acceptance of sexual diversity in Islam. Featured below is Abortion Rights & Islam Series. You can view the full Progressive Islam in Practice Series on our Instagram page or our Website. |
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MPV is scaling up our marriage services to ensure interfaith couples are receiving the support and services they deserve. Check out MPV's new profiles on three wedding portals: BrownBride, Wedding Wire, and TheKnot. |
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