After 12 years, academia, theologians and children's
books are referencing our work!

The Oldest Progressive Muslim Organization in America

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For the History

This winter break offered me some respite for some quiet time,
quiet enough for me to sit down and write a chapter I am
co-authoring with Professor Adis Duderija of Griffith University,
Australia. The book is titled A Handbook of Contemporary Islam
and Muslim Lives (eds. Ronald Lukens-Bull and Mark Woodward), and
my chapter will be called “Progressive Islam: Theory, Movements
and Lived Experience.” I will be illustrating the lived
experiences of progressive Muslims which started in Los Angeles
in 2006, and which have now proliferated all over the world.
Seeing these stories put in black and white, is humbling.

This comes on the heels of contributing a profile on my musical
activism for a book on music and human rights that will be
published by Routledge out of Europe later this year.

And that’s not all.Tunisian human rights and Islamic scholar, and
Human Rights Committee member, Yadh Ben Achour documents MPV’s
work in his forthcoming book, The Revolution Within Islam, to be
released on April 2, 2020 in Paris. The previous Special
Rapporteur of Freedom of Religion or Belief, Professor Heiner
Bielefeldt, with his co-author Michael Wiener of OHCHR, have also
written on MPV’s human rights works in the context of Islam.
Lastly, I’m really thrilled to be included in a book titled Holy
Troublemakers and Unconventional Saints, which features the
stories of 50 “people of faith from different faith backgrounds
who are doing the things you really would hope people of faith
would be doing in the world — working for love and justice and
kindness,” according to curator and editor Deneen Akers. Watch
this short video ( [link removed] )
for a sneak peak of what’s inside the book! In a few weeks, I
will be back in Africa as we prepare for some revolutionary work!
In Kenya, MPV is partnership with our umbrella organization
Alliance of Inclusive Muslims in organizing a strategy conference
on the issue of Freedom of Religion and Belief and Gender, and in
curtailing apostasy and blasphemy laws in Muslim societies.

In Burundi, we will be developing a children’s curriculum that
will instill the values of love, justice and compassion. The
curriculum will be illustrated in a comic form with storylines
that are relatable to Burundian Muslim children and distributed
at madrassas.

These two activities are made possible thanks to the support of
the Foreign Ministry of The Netherlands.

I hope to share more good news in February, stand by!

Have a wonderful 2020! Onward and upward…

Ani Zonneveld
President

In This Issue:
* President's Letter
* Featured Book
* Chapter Updates
* MPV in the News

Quick links:
MPV Website ( [link removed] )
About MPV ( [link removed] )
Our Communities ( [link removed] )
#ImamsForShe ( [link removed] )
Donate to MPV ( [link removed] )

Featured Book

We are very excited to share our Ambassador Blair Imani’s second
book titled Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the
Black American Dream. Making Our Way Home explores issues like
voting rights, domestic terrorism, discrimination, and
segregation alongside the flourishing of arts and culture,
activism, and civil rights. Imani shows how these influences
shaped America's workforce and wealth distribution by featuring
the stories of notable people and events, relevant data, and
family histories. The experiences of prominent figures such as
James Baldwin, Fannie Lou Hamer, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz
(Malcolm X), Ella Baker, and others are woven into the larger
historical and cultural narratives of the Great Migration to
create a truly singular record of this powerful journey.

Chapter Updates

MPV-New York

On December 6, MPV-NY hosted a Very Muslimy Christmas. As part
of the fundraiser event, members enjoyed food, interactive
trivia, karaoke, Ugly Christmas Sweater competition & raffles.
MPV founder, Ani Zonneveld joined the NY community in all the
revel and reflected on why Muslims should celebrate Christmas.
Funds were raised for MPV NY community's next great journey in
2020.

MPV-L.A.

January 11, 3:00 p.m.: “My Story” an event where we share your
story in poetry, spoken word, and memoir form about yourself as
Muslims and, if you're a non-Muslim, any experiences with
Muslims. When we share our stories of pain, happiness and
everything in between we become closer and create a tighter
community. Visit MPV-LA ( [link removed] ) page
for details.

MPV-Boston

On December 6, MPV-Boston held “Muslims for Christmas,” which
gave guests a chance to gather, enjoy hot chai, cookies and
talk about the theological connections between Islam and
Christianity and how our interfaith families celebrate this
season. We also fundraised for and distributed 48 blessing bags
with hats, socks, and other warm items to homeless people in and
around Cambridge and Boston on December 7.

On January 3, MPV-Boston hosted a lecture on “Religious Fascism
in the 21st Century” with activists from the Boston Coalition
speaking about recent protests against the Citizenship Amendment
Act in India.

February 7: MPV-Boston will be hosting “Muslims and Love for All”
with a speaker from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community discussing
their faith and religious persecution Ahmadis have faced in
Pakistan. To RSVP, sign up on the MPV-Boston Facebook ( [link removed] ) or Meetup groups ( [link removed] ).

MPV-D.C.

On December 25, MPV-DC hosted a Christmas day volunteering event
with the Holiday Project. MPV-DC members met up at a local
hospital for ward visits and Christmas caroling.

On January 5, MPV-DC hosted a new year brunch at the Logan Tavern
in DC.
January 26: MPV-DC will host a monthly halaqa/prayer at the
Cleveland Park Library in DC.

MPV-San Francisco

MPV-S.F. continues to hold open meetings on the second Friday of
every month. Our next meeting is on Friday, January 10, at 7:00
p.m., and will feature prayer and discussion. More information
may be found here ( [link removed] ).

MPV in the News

Malaysia
FreeMalaysiaToday.com | The misunderstood concepts of progressive
and liberal Islam ( [link removed] ) | December 6, 2019

“Proponents of progressive Islam see themselves as advocates for
all human beings, not just Muslims. Progressive Muslims represent
the voices of the voiceless, empower the powerless and restore
the dignity of the mustad’afin (the downtrodden who are oppressed
by tyrannical leadership). They are definitely not deviant.”

Tunisia
Kapitalis.com | Le Prix Visionnaire Fatima Al-Fihria 2019 décerné
à Bochra Bel Haj Hmida à Washington ( [link removed] ) | December 3, 2019

Netherlands
Saltmines | Interview met vrouwelijke imam Ani Zonneveld ( [link removed] ) | December 19, 2019

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