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The Oldest Progressive Muslim Organization in America |
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Don't take our work for granted! Donate! |
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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 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
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- President's Letter
- Featured Book
- Chapter Updates
- MPV in the News
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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. |
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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 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 or Meetup groups.
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.
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MPV in the News
Malaysia
“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
Netherlands
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