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MPV Newsletter
March 2022
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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.
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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" 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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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
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You can find the videos on our YouTube channel:
To view the February 16 panel click here.
To view the February 17 panel click here.
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UN Updates - Join Us At CSW66! |
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March 22, 10 AM EST / 6 PM EAT: #ImamsForShe: Women's and Girls' Rights Champions
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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
You can view and engage with us for both panels on these channels:
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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. 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. |
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Happy International Women’s Day |
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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. |
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Click here to donate and support MPV's work! |
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