IN THIS ISSUE
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Islamic Center, Plainfield, Indiana
MAI Retreat-a day long conference and open discussion-- will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at Islamic Center in Plainfield, Indiana. It aims to bring together Muslim community leaders from around Indiana to foster networking and dialogue about the future of the Indiana Muslim community.
Objective of this retreat is to
- Interact with both Republican and Democratic party leaders
- Interact with Muslim leaders from across Indiana
- Learn political process in action at grassroots level
- Formulate consensus opinion with open dialogue and discussion
- MAI Agenda for the future activities
- Muslim delegation to quarterly meet with Governor's office
- Other functional committees
- Constitution and by-laws for the future MAI officials
This is an open invitation to all Indiana Muslim Community Leaders and Activists. It is hoped that there will be few members from each Islamic Center in Indiana, so that there is adequate representation from each community (with ethnic and national diversity). This is crucial for the future of individual Muslim, the families and the community.
Program is Free, but Registration is advised online on our website: www.muslimalliancein.com or by contacting Alia Shah at muslimalliancein@gmail.com.
Muslim Alliance of Indiana Retreat
Islamic Center, Plainfield, Indiana
Saturday, September 16, 2006
|
Opening Session
10:00 - 10:30 |
Welcome and Introduction - Alia Shah |
Session I
10:30 - 11:00 am |
"Indiana Muslim Economic Development Task Force"
Anwar Shah, Azher Khan, Wajid Safdar, Babar Suleman, Mariyam Khan, Ashraf Lakhaney, Dr. Abdul Basher, Dr. M. Majid, Akhter Ali Khan, Khadijah Shareef. Aliyah Al-Ghani
|
Session II
11:00 - 11:45 pm |
"Galvanizing Muslim Participation in Local Politics"
- Patrice Abdullah, City-County Councilman, District #15
"Civic Alliances-Religious, Social, Humanitarian"
- Imam Michael Saahir of Nur-Allah Islamic Center
|
| - LUNCH BREAK - |
Lunch
12:00 - 12:45 pm
1:00 - 1:30 pm |
Lunch Keynote:
Ann DeLaney, author, Politics for Dummies
Moderator: Dr Ibad Ansari |
| 2:00 pm |
Zuhr Prayer |
Session III
2:15 - 3:30 pm |
Special FBI Agent Kyle Scheatzle
Eric Holcomb, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Paul Okeson, Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Staff
- Personal Interaction
- Formation of Muslim Delegation to Governor's Office |
| 3:45 - 5:00 pm |
"American Muslim Relations with Media"
- Dr. Shahid Athar
"The Future of Indiana Muslims"
- The Honorable David Shaheed,
Marion County Superior Court Justice
Open Discussion Among Muslim Leadership: Developing a Strategic Plan
|
Strategic Session
5:15 - 6:30 pm |
"Islam and Civic Engagement"
- Sheikh Tewfik Choukri
- Dr. Rashid Shaker
Moderator: Hamed Omar
|
|
Asr Prayer |
Dinner
7:00 - 8:30 pm |
Keynote Speaker: Professor AbdulKader Sinno,
Professor of Political Science, Indiana University, Bloomington
"Muslim Representation in U.S. Politics:
Understanding and addressing the Challenges"
|
|
Maghrib Prayer |
Ann M. DeLaney is a founding partner of DeLaney & DeLaney. Before entering private practice, she served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Marion County, Indiana. She also served as a Commissioner in the Marion Superior Court and as a Special Prosecutor in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.
Ann DeLaney is the former chair of the Indiana Democratic Party. She served as Campaign Manager and spokesperson for then-Governor Evan Bayh's re-election campaign in 1992.
Numerous institutions have recognized Ann Delaney's leadership. In November 2001, the Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington inducted her into the Academy of Law Alumni Fellows, the highest honor bestowed upon graduates of the law school. Ann Delaney is a 1977 graduate of the school and is the President of its Board of Visitors. In September 2001, the Indianapolis Bar Association's Women and the Law Division recognized Ann Delaney as an outstanding woman lawyer by selecting her for the Antoinette Dakin Leach Award. The Indianapolis Bar Association selected Ann to serve on the Judicial Evaluation Committee for 2002.
Ann Delaney currently serves as Executive Director of the Julian Center, a United Way Agency that provides shelter and counseling to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Indianapolis. She was appointed by Former U.S. President William J. Clinton to serve as a Standing Trustee for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in the Southern District of Indiana.
Ann Delaney is author of Politics for Dummies, published by IDG Books Worldwide. The second edition of Politics for Dummies™ was published in May 2002. For several years, she contributed a periodic column to the Indianapolis Business Journal. Ann is a frequent speaker and lecturer. She is perhaps most widely known for her weekly contribution to political discourse as a panelist on the political roundtable television show, Indiana Week in Review.
MAI greatly appreciates Mrs. Ann DeLaney's acceptance to speak at the luncheon and steer the Muslim community into political arena.
Sister Alia Shah, As-Salaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
Below are a few reflections from our meeting Wednesday, August 09, 2006 at Nur-Allah Islamic Center. Present, in addition to you and I, were Dr. Ibad Ansari, Carolyn Saahir (my wife), and Sister Brenda Shaheed.
Al-Hamdulillah, we had an open, frank, and heart-felt exchange on issues that reached, insha'-Allah, to the heart of many issues that have stirred quietly in dormancy in many Islamic communities in Indiana and even America. The courage and willingness to put these issues on the table; even though not fully addressed or resolved, did provide a breath of fresh air in that acknowledging these issues and concerns did serve as the break of light - very much similar to the suhoor meal of a Ramadan day. Hopefully this meeting will serve as clarion proclaiming a new day for Muslims and Islamic leadership in Indiana. This was not a meeting for placing or transferring "blame", it was a gathering that provided a forum for hearing from and listening to one another. One benefit of this meeting was the careful use of words and keeping a consciousness on the possible ramifications of words and their perceived meanings by others. There was the mentioning of creating a more inclusive body of Islamic leadership that was more reflective of the diverse Islamic leadership of Indiana, a body that united upon Islamic need, concerns, and issues that still promoted and protected the individual identities of every "tribe and nation" involved. Probably the most important highlight of this meting is that all present agreed that no one entity could claim to represent or speak for all of the Muslims of Indiana. Nonetheless, it was stated that to date what each separate Islamic community has achieved only represents a single "brick" or a single "wall" in the total house that we need to build for all Muslims. We agreed to not make this meeting our last. Dr. Ansari mentioned two upcoming events. 1) The Muslim Alliance of Indiana Islamic Retreat, 2) The Iftar at the Governor's mansion in October.
Hopefully we'll meet again soon with a collective representative body of Indian's Islamic leadership. As of this writing I am putting my contributions to any state-wide federations for unifying Islamic leadership on hold until all Muslim leaders are warmly welcomed to come and represent the interest of their respective people. I don't mind writing this position that I am taking because I believe - as was demonstrated in our August 09th meeting - that by being free to speak openly doesn't close doors but in fact opens doors for true dialogue and therefore growth and progress. This is the opening of a new day in Indiana. The fajr is here with more light (Nur), insha'-Allah to come to guide (Huda) us on the path of Prophet Muhammed and the Blessed Qur'an.
From your Brother Michael "Mikal" Saahir
Resident Imam of Nur-Allah Islamic Center
Indianapolis, Indiana
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Holiday Inn Express, Martinsville, Indiana
Please note the date on your calender
Program will be released at MAI Retreat
Associated Press
August 18, 2006
IndyStar.com
Media portrayals of Muslims often contain so much bias that they've helped fuel an "Islamic-phobia," experts said Thursday during a panel discussion at the National Association of Black Journalists' national convention in Indianapolis.
"We're given the most extreme manifestations and there is no balance," Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said of American media coverage. "It shouldn't be 95 percent negative and 5 percent positive. It shouldn't be just about Ramadan. It needs to be more than that."
The panel, which also included a newspaper columnist, university administrator and community activist, showcased the diversity of the nation's Muslim community.
Between 30 and 45 percent of Muslims in the United States are black, said Faheem Shuaibe, an imam of Masjidul Waritheen and director of the Clara Mohammed School in Oakland, Calif.
Islam, with an estimated 1.2 billion followers, is the world's second-largest religion behind Christianity.
Panelists said reporters should find positive stories about local Islamic communities and avoid stereotypical phrasing such as "Muslim garb" when referring to clothing such as a hijab, or head covering, that some Muslims wear.
Still, the responsibility to help Americans disconnect the word "Islamic" with "terrorist" also lies with religious leaders, panelists said.
"There has to be another side presented," said Brenda Shaheed, a vice president of the historically black Martin University in Indianapolis who has practiced Islam for more than 30 years. "If I learned about Islam through the images in the media, there's nothing that would attract me to it."
The 31st annual NABJ convention continues in Indianapolis through Sunday.
August 12, 2006
On alleged terror plot, they fault Bush for calling suspects 'Islamic fascists'
By Robert King
robert.king@indystar.com
The Muslim prayer service on a park lawn near the Indiana World War Memorial had been planned for a week as a gesture for peace, particularly in the Middle East.
But by the time more than 50 local Muslims gathered Friday, the world was coming to terms with yet another alleged terrorist plot by young Muslims trying to hurt America.
President Bush, who earned Muslim-American gratitude for his "religion of peace" comment after 9/11, caused consternation this week when he called the alleged plotters "Islamic fascists."
Yet the Muslims from six area mosques still did what they came for -- call for an end to violence in the Middle East and the streets of Indianapolis, and an end to the killing of innocents of all faiths. They prayed openly -- shoulder to shoulder -- falling prostrate on their prayer rugs on the damp grass.
"We should not be ashamed because there are a few ignorant people in the world who want to use religion to cover their politics," said Vincent Sutton, a 32-year-old Muslim and former U.S. Army medic who took part in the service.
The president's "Islamic fascists" comment seemed inappropriate and contradictory to Umar Al-Khattab, an imam at the Westside mosque Masjid Al-Fajr. "Islam and fascism -- you can't put them in the same category," he said.
Muhammad Siddeeq, who organized the event, said the fascist comment was "unwise" and needed more qualification. But he said it is inevitable that American Muslims must continue to defend their faith in light of those who do "un-Islamic things."
"The questions are legitimate in light of the environment we are living in," he said. "We can't deny that."
Michael Saahir, a firefighter and imam at the Northside Nur-Allah Islamic Center, opened the event by speaking to the gathered Muslims in a huddle. He said Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq should stop fighting, Bush should bring American troops home, and the killing of innocents must stop everywhere.
In the end, Saahir said, Muslims, Christians and Jews share a common need: to live as their faiths call them to live -- in peace.
Call Star reporter Robert King at (317) 444-6089.
August 14, 2006 09:10 AM EDT
By Shana Kelley
News 8 @ 6
Indianapolis Christians, Muslims and Jews have been working hand in hand over the last several months on an interfaith project that came to fruition Sunday. The project was to build a house with Habitat for Humanity. Their ultimate goal was to celebrate diversity and share a sense of unity.
"This is a sign of what can be done around the world," Michael Saahir with the Imam Nur-Allah Islamic Center said.
They have dubbed it the House of Abraham.
"Because Abraham played a very important part in all three faiths and all three faith recognize Abraham," Dean Illingworth, former director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis, said.
"Abraham's tent was a symbol of hospitality and warmth and welcome and what has happened here is a people of three faiths. Jews, Christians and Muslims have come together to build a house to make a home for a family," Sandy Sasso, Rabbi of Congregation of Bethel Zedeck said.
Jews, Christians and Muslims working side by side for Habitat for Humanity built a home for a family in need.
"If people of faith, different religions can put their differences aside and come together the good of helping a family. It's very important because when people help people they're serving God," Saahir said.
"I really think Indianapolis is indeed a crossroads where Jews, Christians and Muslims can make a statement to the world," David Berry, associate pastor for missions at Second Presbyterian Church said.
"And given all the antagonisms in the world today how wonderful to see that there are people of faith who can come and build something in God's name that creates instead of destroys," Sasso said.
It's the first of its kind in Indianapolis, but won't be the last.
"We are following God who seeks peace, who seeks reconciliation, who seeks a world in harmony as God has created it," Berry said.
The House of Abraham is Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis' 300th home. The interfaith group hopes to build two more homes in the name of Abraham next year.
By Jimmy Carter
Former President of the United States (1976-80)
The people of the Middle East deserve peace and justice, and we owe them our support. By Jimmy Carter 08/08/06 "The Guardian" -- -- The Middle East is a tinderbox, with some key players on all sides waiting for every opportunity to destroy their enemies with bullets, bombs and missiles. One of the special vulnerabilities of Israel, and a repetitive cause of violence, is the holding of prisoners. Militant Palestinians and Lebanese know that a captured Israeli soldier or civilian is either a cause of conflict or a valuable bargaining chip for prisoner exchange. This assumption is based on a number of such trades, including 1,150 Arabs, mostly Palestinians, for three Israelis in 1985; 123 Lebanese for the remains of two Israeli soldiers in 1996; and 433 Palestinians and others for an Israeli businessman and the bodies of three soldiers in 2004.
This stratagem precipitated the renewed violence that erupted in June when Palestinians dug a tunnel under the barrier that surrounds Gaza and assaulted some Israeli soldiers, killing two and capturing one. They offered to exchange the soldier for the release of 95 women and 313 children who are among almost 10,000 Arabs in Israeli prisons, but this time Israel rejected a swap and attacked Gaza in an attempt to free the soldier and stop rocket fire into Israel. The resulting destruction brought reconciliation between warring Palestinian factions and support for them throughout the Arab world. Hizbullah militants in south Lebanon then killed three Israeli soldiers and captured two others, and insisted on Israel's withdrawal from disputed territory and an exchange for some of the several thousand incarcerated Lebanese. With American backing, Israeli bombs and missiles rained down on Lebanon. Soon, Hizbullah rockets supplied by Syria and Iran were striking northern Israel.
It is inarguable that Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks on its citizens, but it is inhumane and counterproductive to punish civilian populations in the illogical hope that somehow they will blame Hamas and Hizbullah for provoking the devastating response. The result instead has been that broad Arab and worldwide support has been rallied for these groups, while condemnation of both Israel and the United States has intensified. Israel belatedly announced, but did not carry out, a two-day cessation in bombing Lebanon, responding to the global condemnation of an air attack on the Lebanese village of Qana, where 57 civilians were killed and where 106 died from the same cause 10 years ago. As before there were expressions of "deep regret," a promise of "immediate investigation" and the explanation that dropped leaflets had warned families in the region to leave their homes.
The urgent need in Lebanon is that Israeli attacks stop, that Lebanon's regular military forces control the southern region of the country, that Hizbullah cease as a separate fighting force, and future attacks against Israel be prevented. Israel should withdraw from all Lebanese territory, including Shebaa Farms, and release the Lebanese prisoners. Yet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected such a cease-fire. These are ambitious hopes, but even if the UN Security Council adopts and implements a resolution that would lead to such an eventual solution, it will provide just another band-aid and temporary relief. Tragically, the current conflict is part of the inevitably repetitive cycle of violence that results from the absence of a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, exacerbated by the almost unprecedented six-year absence of any real effort to achieve such a goal. Leaders on both sides ignore strong majorities that crave peace, allowing extremist-led violence to pree mpt all opportunities for building a political consensus. Traumatized Israelis cling to the false hope that their lives will be made safer by incremental unilateral withdrawals from occupied areas, while Palestinians see their remnant territories reduced to little more than human dumping grounds surrounded by a provocative "security barrier" that embarrasses Israel's friends and fails to bring safety or stability.
The general parameters of a long-term, two-state agreement are well known. There will be no substantive and permanent peace for any peoples in this troubled region as long as Israel is violating key UN resolutions, official American policy and the international "road map" for peace by occupying Arab lands and oppressing the Palestinians. Except for mutually agreeable negotiated modifications, Israel's official pre-1967 borders must be honored. As were all previous administrations since the founding of Israel, US government leaders must be in the forefront of achieving this long-delayed goal. A major impediment to progress is the US administration's strange policy that dialogue on controversial issues will be extended only as a reward for subservient behavior and will be withheld from those who reject US assertions. Direct engagement with the Palestine Liberation Organization or the Palestinian Authority and the government in Damascus will be necessary if secure negotiated set tlements are to be achieved. Failure to address the issues and leaders involved risks the creation of an arc of even greater instability running from Jerusalem through Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad and Tehran. The people of the Middle East deserve peace and justice, and we in the international community owe them our strong leadership and support.
© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
Julian Center is at the forefront of fighting domestic violence. It has served Muslim and non-Muslim families. As Muslims, it is our duty to fight against oppression and injustice. We can do so by assisting the Julian Center in its mission.
The last two and a half years have been a period of challenge for the Julian Center. They are in the midst of a three year cycle in which their funding was reduced by $200,000 per year for each of the three years. They have received generous contributions from wonderful donors to help them through this period but their needs continue to grow. The demand for their services is at an all time high. The number of clients they serve has grown each and every year through their outreach program, their counseling center and their shelter. In fact, the number of clients they are serving has more than doubled in the last five years!
For example, last year, the Shelter alone served 1239 women and children. That represents a 6% increase in clients served in the Shelter over 2004. This year they are on target to provide emergency services to 10-14% more women and children than last year. For months, they have consistently used all of their regular beds and have had to place families in library and computer lab on cots! Clearly, their outreach and early intervention efforts have had a positive impact on the number of persons in our community who are choosing to flee from violence and reach out for help before situations escalate to the point of serious injury or death.
To feed more than one hundred women and children three meals a day and snacks is expensive. Their food bills are running thousands of dollars a month over budget. They anticipate that they will spend $100,000 this year just to feed their clients! One overnight stay costs the center $55 to feed, house and provide services to both adults and children. In 2005, Julian Center provided 26,251 overnight stays to women and children. Therefore, $1,443,805 was spent on the essential services for clients in their emergency shelter!
Every donation makes a clear and significant impact. Muslim community of Indiana is asked to show once again that we believe in supporting community institutions that are fulfilling important needs. You can help the Julian Center meet this huge increase in demand for shelter, counseling, case management and other services by sending a tax deductible gift of $, $, $. Whatever you are able to send will insure that everyone who comes to their door will receive emergency shelter and critical support. Please make donations directly to the Julian Center at 2011 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 through their website www.juliancenter.org.
Director of Civil Rights:
The applicant will be responsible for establishing relationships with the local, state and federal authorities involved with civil rights and hate crimes. The director will assist people in reporting allegations of civil rights abuse. This part-time position will be ideal for an attorney in private practice or a student in a JD program. Applicants must have a minimum of a bachelors degree from an accreddited institution and must be passionate about the Muslim community in Indiana and the mission of MAI.
Director of Programs:
The Director of Programs (DP) will be a part-time employee of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana. The director will organize MAI events, edit and write MAI enews and newsletter, create relationships with state and local government and outreach to the Muslim community in Indiana. Applicants must have a minimum of a bachelors degree from an accreddited institution and must be passionate about the Muslim community in Indiana and the mission of MAI.
MUSLIM ALLIANCE OF INDIANA is dedicated to empower Muslims through social engagement and developing awareness of public issues among Muslims and connecting 280,000 Muslim Hoosiers with the leadership.
To learn more about past activities and accomplishments, please visit at www.muslimalliancein.com
To be involved with MAI mission, please contact muslimalliancein@yahoo.com
To strengthen and disseminate the vision, please forward this message to others in Indiana or send email list to muslimalliancein@yahoo.com
This is intended for Muslim Hoosiers and friends promoting peace and harmony, mutual respect and making Indiana strong. If you want to be off this list, please advise.
Thank you.
