Teaching peace in a world rife with turmoil.

MPV Newsletter
April 2022

President's Note

Peace greetings everyone!

Before we dive into this month’s newsletter, I want to wish each and everyone of you who celebrate, a blessed Ramadan! To
those who are struggling this month, whether because of a lonely iftar table, an inability to fast, a health condition, or
the first holy month without a loved one, I wish you an especially blessed, and peaceful month.

Pay your Zakat to MPV ( [link removed] )

This month marks the beginning of 30 days of inner peace and reflection for Muslims across the world at a time when the world
seems so devoid of societal peace and harmony. Recognizing that this hostile environment will continue unabated unless
societies themselves are inculcated in the values of inclusivity, egalitarianism, and justice, I decided to do something
about it.

Over the past year, I’ve partnered with two dear friends to create Inclusive Islam Curriculums ( [link removed] ), one, the Inclusive Islam Curriculum Rooted in Human Rights for Children
( [link removed] ), designed for Muslim children living in Western, Democratic societies and another, the
Inclusive Religious Curriculum ( [link removed] ) designed for Muslim children living
in Burundi.

The goal of both of these curricula is to educate children on universal human rights and the Quranic teachings that
substantiate these values in hopes that each child will achieve inner peace and go out into the world to share this peace.

If you’re a parent interested in the curriculum or a member of an organization interested in partnering with MPV to promote
the Burundian or Western Curriculum, do not hesitate to reach out to us ( [link removed] ).

I am honored to announce the addition of two new esteemed members to the Muslims for Progressive Values’ Board of Trustees ( [link removed] ). Marina Ahmad ( [link removed] ), a corporate lawyer and a committed feminist, and Tom McDonald ( [link removed] ), the former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe and a partner at Vorys Washington DC Office, both joined MPV as Board Members this
past month and I’m so excited for the enthusiasm and experience they will bring to our board.

As promised in our last newsletter, the English version of my speech at the Islam XXI Conference de Paris 2022 - Palais de
l’UNESCO is now available to view ( [link removed] ).

Lastly, I'm thrilled to share that on May 16, 2022, the 5th edition of the International Day of Living Together in Peace ( [link removed] ) will be held. It’s the best way to mobilize the efforts of the international community. It’s an
opportunity for all to share the deep desire to live and act together, united in difference and diversity, in order to build
a sustainable world based on peace, solidarity and harmony. Muslims for Progressive Values is grateful to be actively
involved in this event. It is an opportunity for us to remember the essential values of tolerance, inclusion, understanding
and solidarity.

For this day, which will be celebrated all over the world, we invite you to the screening of the documentary movie "All of Us
( [link removed] )".

This film shows the stories of women and men who, in the four corners of the planet, dare to take the step towards the other,
whatever the existing tensions or prejudices.

To mark this occasion, on May 16th ( [link removed] ), we invite you to:

* Watch, comment, and share around you “All of Us" between May 14 and 22.
* Sign, if you wish, the Universal Declaration of Living Together in Peace ( [link removed] ).

Onward and upward…

Ani Zonneveld
​​​​​​​Founder, President

National Updates

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

MPV LA

Check out the calendar ( [link removed] ) for progressive readings of the Qur'an and iftars.

MPV Boston

April 9: Please join MPV-Boston ( [link removed] ) at 11:30 am for outdoor prayers and "Queer Muslim
Shorts" at the Brattle Theatre at 40 Brattle Street in Harvard Square, Cambridge MA. We are calling YOU to come on out, be
queer, muslim, and proud!

We will start the event off at 11:30 with a Queer call to prayer, followed by zuhr namaz outdoors. Then the films start
inside at the Brattle Theatre at 12pm. We are sponsoring free tickets for everyone who signs up in advance on our event page
( [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 ( [link removed] ).

Featured below is Part I of our most recent series, Takfir, which defines the term, its roots, its misinterpretation and the
subsequent abuse of the practice in the name of Islam. Throughout the series, we also address the numerous victims of takfir,
the term's presence in Islamic Jurisprudence, Islamic governments manipulation of the practice, and the practice from a human
rights standpoint.

To view the full series, head to our new webpage - Freedom of Religion and Belief ( [link removed] ).

Support MPV

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