MPV Newsletter
March 2022

President's Note

Peace greetings everyone!

This newsletter is late, and for good reason. I just returned from a whirlwind two week trip to Paris, Nairobi and Kampala
and there’s lots to share.

In Paris, I was invited to speak at the“Islam XXII Conference: Living Islam in the 21st century - "Islam and Identities:
Between Worship and Cultures" ( [link removed] ) and my presentation was titled “Putting the
‘real Islam’ into practice” where I defined the ‘real Islam’ as one that is rooted in human rights. I also sang a song as a
manifestation of spirituality and the connection we all have with the Creator in us, and how we can only connect with each
other as human beings once we have connected with our own spirit. I am sharing one of those beautiful moments I experienced
after presentations, and this time it was with an elderly French lady, Viviane, who came up to share a heartfelt hug with me.
Once I get the video of my English presentation, I’ll share it.

From there to Nairobi, where I collected narratives from men of their reflection of intimate experiences with women who have
undergone FGM versus with women who have not. My hunch was right, and the results will be shared in due time, and the
reflections of these men will be amplified in partnership with the Global Media Campaign to End FGM in Kenya.

Also in Kenya, I am excited about the prospect of rolling out our Progressive Islam Curriculum in three madrassas as a pilot!
Find out more about it at our CSW66 panel. See details below.

And in Kampala, along with three of the board members of Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM), we had a very pleasant meeting
with the Grand Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the outcome of which included a partnership between the Uganda
Muslim Supreme Council and AIM in the implementation of our #ImamsForShe initiative.

This partnership will also include the chairing by the Grand Mufti for the convening of Muftis and Kadhis from ten East
African countries as we look to scaling up #ImamsForShe regionally, and potentially impacting 153 million people, especially
women and girls, positively. If you are interested in helping us scale up, do reach out to me.

Lastly, it was also wonderful to be able to meet the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Kampala, Dr. Karin Boven (pictured
above) as we look for ways to work together.

Onward and upward…

Ani Zonneveld
Founder, President

International Updates

Watch the ‘live’ recordings of this remarkable and intellectually stimulating conference Islam XXII Conference, (Paris):
Living Islam in the 21st century: "Islam and Identities: Between Worship and Cultures" ( [link removed] ) in French for now.

You can find the videos on our YouTube channel:

To view the February 16 panel click here ( [link removed] ).

To view the February 17 panel click here ( [link removed] ).

UN Updates - Join Us At CSW66!

March 22, 10 AM EST / 6 PM EAT: #ImamsForShe: Women's and Girls' Rights Champions

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

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

You can view and engage with us for both panels on these channels:
MPV's YouTube ( [link removed] ) | MPV's Facebook page ( [link removed] )

National Updates

Check out our new store ( [link removed] ) and for national and chapter events, check our calendar here ( [link removed] ).

Progressive Islam in Practice

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. In addition to sharing the series on social media, we have built
up an entire page on the website dedicated to the Progressive Islam in Practice Series entitled Quick Learns. Featured below
is Part I of our most recent series, Female Genital Mutilation in Islam, which inspired our new Issues Page, Female Genital
Mutilation.

MPV in the Media

Mizane | Islam et identités ( [link removed] ) |
February 14, 2022
Le Courrier | A Marseille, un islam arc-en-ciel ( [link removed] ) |
February 17, 2022

Happy International Women’s Day

From all of us at MPV, we wish you a very happy International Women’s Day! May this year bring the women reading this the
courage to continue to stand up for ourselves and our male allies the courage to continue to stand up for the women in your
lives in the face of tyranny, oppression, and persecution. In doing so, we remain on the right side of history and we
continue to uphold the Quranic values of gender equality.

Support MPV

Click here ( [link removed] )to donate and support MPV's work!

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