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September 2022 Newsletter |
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Thank you everyone for your donations for MPV’s 15th birthday! Because of you and your continued support over the years, we are officially the oldest progressive Muslim organization in the United States. Over the years we have redefined what it means to be an American Muslim, both culturally and ethically, through our public education and advocacy efforts and our partnerships with progressive scholars and religious leaders.
It has been very hard work to get here. The fact that we’re still standing is a testament to our solid foundation and unshakeable conviction. Looking out at the landscape, we see pushback from conservative and extremist Muslims digging their heels on progress, particularly on women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQI+ rights. We also see both conservative Muslim mosques and conservative Evangelicals institutions solidifying their relationships on, of course, women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQI+ rights. On YouTube, they openly label us as “not real Muslims”, and with that label we venture into dangerous territory - the labeling of being an apostate and blasphemer. It is these labels that are at the heart of the stabbing of Salman Rushdie and the violent threats to any religious person who thinks freely and expresses their thoughts independently.
Which is why on September 14, we are hosting a forum “Addressing Apostasy and Blasphemy Laws in Muslim Societies”, which will cover Muslim societies from the West to Malaysia. At our forum, which will take place on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, we will go through the theological and historical background of apostasy and blasphemy, including the lack of support for these practices in Islamic jurisprudence. And for the first time, I will share my personal experience with these accusations in a case study format, which will include what to do when being attacked and how to fight back through social media, the United Nations, diplomatic channels, and interfaith collaborations.
The event is open to the public, both in person and virtually for those not in the Washington DC area. We invite you to RSVP here!
I hope you will join me in person to share a light breakfast and stimulating conversation together but if not, we'd love to have you join us virtually!
Onward and upward…
Ani Zonneveld
Founder, President
P.S. If you didn't have the chance to donate during our birthday celebration but you would still like to make a donation, you can do so here.
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To mark the one year anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Alliance of Inclusive Muslims, of which MPV is a member, released this Bill of Rights, which girls can use to argue for their right to schooling. |
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We are pleased to invite you to attend Muslims for Progressive Values upcoming workshop "Addressing Apostasy and Blasphemy Laws in Muslim Societies", on September 14, 2022 from 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM EST at Rayburn HOB Room 2060 on Capitol Hill. The event is open to the public, and we welcome all those interested in advancing freedom of religion and belief. For those who cannot join us in person, you can join us virtually via Zoom. |
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The first session will lay the baseline of understanding of the social, historical and religious contexts of the origins of apostasy and blasphemy laws.
The second session will introduce strategies on how to counter social media attack campaigns effectively, how to create an ecosystem conducive to inculcating a culture rooted in human rights in partnership with faith, women and youth leaders, through education and media. The workshop will be led by human rights advocates from Malaysia, Uganda, Pakistan, and the U.S. with ample opportunity for active participatory engagement.
To RSVP, please fill out this brief form. For those who will be joining us virtually, a link to join the workshop will be shared via email prior to the event.
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We are happy to welcome our newest Board Member, Shazeen Mufti, to MPV's Board of Trustees. |
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Law and Crime | Gender Equality Can Only Come Through Reforming Family Law | August 24, 2022 | “Organizations that have been on the frontline include Equality Now, the Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), and Muslims for Progressive Values."
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Progressive Islam in Practice |
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At MPV we recognize that the Progressive Muslim movement will never sustain significant growth without making information about Progressive Islam more accessible to the Muslim 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.
This month, in honor of our upcoming event on September 14, Addressing Apostasy and Blasphemy in Muslim Societies, we are highlighting Part Three of our Takfir Series, which details the impermissibility of the practice of takfir in classical Islamic Jurisprudence, including the Qur’an and Hadith. To learn more about the impact that the normalization of takfir has within the greater Muslim community, visit our Freedom of Religion and Belief webpage or register for our upcoming September event.
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