From: <peacethrujustice@aol.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 4:36 AM
Subject: [bangla-vision] FEEDBACK - from the Aafia Siddiqui-related controversy involving ISNA
THE PEACE AND JUSTICE FOUNDATION 11006 Veirs Mill Rd, STE L-15, PMB 298 Silver Spring, MD. 20902 RAJAB 1431 A.H. (July 7, 2010) Assalaamu Alaikum (Greetings of Peace): Here is some feedback from the threat of arrest I received at the ISNA Convention in Chicago over the holiday weekend. (I have omitted the names of the respondents, many of whom I know, to protect their privacy.) My own response to questions & issues raised can be found at the end. MS FEEDBACK ASA my dear brother, may Allah reward you for all of your sincere efforts to raise awareness of this important cause and inshallah bring much due justice to our sister. Although I think the handling of the matter by ISNA was heavy handed and that it was in poor judgement for them to force you to leave, I think the primary issue [is] that ISNA sells space to individuals and organizations throughout the venue and wants to discourage people from showing up to promote a cause without first booking a table. If many organizations stopped buying tables and went this route it could hurt the event economically and lead to chaos. Secondly, through the formal arrangement of selling a table, ISNA gets the opportunity to research who is getting the table to make sure trouble makers can be prevented from using the space. I can give an example: at the Muslim day parade in NYC, there is a person who goes around with a video camera and asks CHILDREN if they support violent jihad against western powers. No matter what their answers, these videos are later used to embarrass and mis-portray Muslims. I do not suggest that you are in league with such people, just that such people do exist and that institutions such as ISNA can be overly cautious and paranoid about such situations occurring. Of course, Allah Knows Best If Sr. Afia's justice does not come before the next convention, inshallah let us get a proper table in the best location. Sincerely, ------------------------ Assalamu Alykum, My Dear Saalakhan: ------------------------------- ASA Brother, Great job!! Shame on ISNA, anyhow it's good idea to make organised effort. I am thinking you could have contacted Muslim legal fund of america in volunteering your efforts and to setup a booth in the bazar. JZK ---------------------------- wa AA Br. El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan You have mentioned that one brother said he supported Sr. Afia with donation to MLFA and your response was that it was not enough. The question is what have YOU and other Muslim leaders nation wide have done that is very effective for Sr. Afia? wa assalam, ---------------------------- As Salaam Alaikum [name excluded], By your asking this question about our wonderful brother Mauri, shows that you don't know much about his work, nor have [you] kept up with the numerous emails he has sent detailing his efforts in regards to Sis Aafia Siddiqui. Mauri has led the effort in supporting Sis Aafia Siddiqui in a number of ways. He has been foremost in communicating with all of us about the trials and what has been happening with Dr. Aafia. He has been there at court hearings to support her. He has been in communication and supported the family of Dr. Aafia. He has led and participated in numerous rallies and activities designed to bring the plight of Aafia to the public view. I personally don't know of anyone who has done more to help the plight of our poor maligned and suffering sister. I would not expect anything different from brother Mauri. I have known him for more than 20 years. He has always been in the forefront of supporting Muslims who have been wronged by the American legal system. He has made great sacrifices in doing so and often where he should get the support of the Muslim community he doesn't. All of us as Muslims and decent minded people should be supporting the noble causes that he champions. I pray that ALLAH will richly reward him for his efforts and awaken the sleeping majority of Muslims to become more like our wonderful brother Mauri! ----------------------------- Dear Brother Mauri I am sorry to hear about your frustration, although I can't say I'm surprised. At least at the ICNA convention there was a youth group with a FREE FAHAD campaign. I just wanted to share the good news that I went to a hippie activist birthday party for one of their kids this weekend and everybody was talking about this issue (and I didn't raise the topic). They are so tired of the FBI and Homeland Security framing people like Tarek Mehanna, and Jericho Boston is doing some kind of court action against the David Project front group, Citizens for Peace and Tolerance in this regard. it was a very heartwarming meeting for me to see how supportive these Rainbow Coalition/Green Party type people were, and how hungry they were for more information related to this topic. So many concerned citizens have only limited knowledge but are doing what they can think of to do. But they definitely need some leadership to pull everything together it seems. Maybe we need to forget about the Muslims for now. Once it's "cool" to care about political prisoners (since everybody is doing it) the Muslims will follow. ---------------------------- Salaams ---------------------------------- Brother Saala, As you know the powers-who-think-they-are always compromise with the authorities in order to get themselves nice and cozy rewards from the slave drivers. So don't expect any truths from them. Just put your trust in Allah and the rest will be ok! ----------------------------- This is shameful. ISNA has descended into the gutter. Keep up the good fight my esteemed brother. ---------------------------------- Assalamu Alaikum, I support your cause but the method you have used to get support for your cause is questionable. We live in a land of laws and must obey the law of the land. Think about a hypothetical situation where someone comes in to the convention hall and start campaigning to bring down the US Government or spread terrorism in USA. Who will be blamed for it... ISNA as it is their function. ISNA's annual function attracts 40,000 attendees. Consider what will happen if everyone will start campaigning for his selected cause. If you wanted to hold a certain sign in the convention then you must seek permission from ISNA many weeks in advance. ---------------------------------- With all due respect for the cause, a principal point here is that anyone else attending the convention who wanted to make a presentation or display wares, etc., PAID for the privilege. How could convention organizers excuse the actions of one above the requirement placed on others? Had Mr. Saalakhan cooperated in the same way everyone else had, he would have most certainly found his intended audience. He has no one to blame for this incident other than himself. Pure and simple. -------------------------- Salam Alikum -------------------------- As-Salaamu Alaikum ------------------------------- I received this text message the morning after. Assalaamu alaikum br Mauri. I just read ur email. U have acted with hikmah. May Allah grant u strength and success. Allah loves those who turn away from an argument even when they are right. ------------------------------- Al-salaamu alaikum. May Allah reward you. What happened this morning? -------------------------- As-Salaamu Alaikum Brother Saalakhan Shukran for making me aware of this. For the record: 1- There certainly should have been allowance made for you to continue consciousness raising for our sister Aafia 2- The police shouldn't have been called and I will personally express that to ISNA leadership That being said my brother, I just don't understand why you continue to just show up at Muslim events and "gate-crash" them, so to speak. Why don't you simply contact folk in advance and ask permission to speak, set up exhibits, etc.? You are a senior activist and making such requests or folk honoring them shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure I've said this to you before, because you're known to have an MO of just showing up and requesting time coming in the door, or setting up - which breaches some folk's protocol and starts things off on an awkward footing which some handle better than others, apparently. You are a person dedicated to righteous causes. To turn down a request from you puts the onus on others. But when you ambush folk it puts some degree of onus on you. I spoke with Imam Qasim who told me he saw and spoke briefly with you, and based upon his description of you, [and] your own self-description as "near exhaustion" seems an understatement. I wonder if being in that state somehow affected your judgement or degree of patience? Allah knows best. But please consider what I am saying. Go where you're invited or request to be invited if you're overlooked, and respect folk's protocol whether they give you a yay or nay and I'm sure you won't have such problems, insha'Allah. At any rate may Allah continue to bless you for your intentions and efforts Was Salaam, ----------------------------- As salaamu alakium, When will the Muslims wake up and realize that most of these so called Muslim organizations have signed on with their American masters. They are American first and Muslim last. You may not agree with my statement, but my statement is not based on feelings alone but what I have seen from these organizations. They are quick to denounce and or reject their Muslim Br & Sis before the facts are presented. Then they turn to the American authorities as if to say, "See Masta... we be good... Muslims. We wit' you... Boss..." Nothing but a bunch of HOUSE MUSLIMS! They all disgust me!!! Keep the struggle alive Br. And may Allah reward you for your efforts. Ameen. Concerning the Raleigh 7, their trial has been postponed for another year. Upon their trial, they will have been incarcerated for two years. One of the defendants was beaten badly recently by another inmate while the prison staff stood by and waited til after the beating was over. His face was broken. Neither his attorney nor family were alerted to the beating. I fear that this year will be used as a means to try and "break" the defendants in this case. Daniel Boyd has remained in solitary confinement since his arrest. He has no human contact and does not have the pleasure of feeling the sun on his face. Other than their family, very few within the Muslim community have written them. Keep them in your dua. I am in constant contact with the Boyd family. All of the families are in constant need of our support. As the defendants do the time, so do their families. Your Sister in Islam, ---------------------------- Wow, how bureaycratic and wrong. AM SURE ALOT OF FOLKSAA LIKE CAIR AND MUSLM ADVOCATES WOULD HAVE INTERVENED ON YOUR BEHALF... --------------------------------- AsSalaamAlykum, I will not hesitate calling them Munaffqeen. They are in abundance in this country. --------------------------- Salaams Sheikhi, I know you told me Friday @ ISWA that you were going there and what you encountered as you know was not unexpected, May Allah grant you increase in Iman and courage to continue the struggle. --------------------------------- As salaam alaikum ----------------------------------- As Salaamu Alaikum brother Saalakhan, ----------------------------------- Wow! This is crazy! I CAN NOT believe that things like this is happening! Put this up on Face Book. Let everyone see. ----------------------------- As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Baraktuhu May Allah bless you Brother Sallakhan for your struggles in standing up and being the voice for the downtrodden, and for those who are unable to stand up and speak for themselves. Stand strong and don't let your spirits be dampened or let your light for helping others be extinguished. That's exactly what shaytan wants... May Allah (SWT) give you the strength to continue in your struggles to help others. Remember, that Allah (SWT) is with you in all of the good that you do... for you are bringing attention to the injustices that are taking place and standing up for the muslims. You are doing a great job...keep up the great work, for nothing good comes easy, and are not without good results...and nothing good comes without struggle. Hang in there~ May Allah (SWT) bless and reward you for all of the good that you do. --------------------------------- Assalaamu Alaykum May ALLAH reward you for your passion and sincerity (as it appears and we ask ALLAH to make it even better than it appears). I just have a question, did you try to rent a booth in the bazaar area or request a session like the other speakers or request permission to do this and were refused? If you have tried that and it [was] refused you would have been able to put the pressure on ISNA to do otherwise, but now they can simply say if he had came through our known venues we would have accepted it but he did not inform any of us and our regulations etc. Just thought of sharing the thought. May ALLAH reward you for your efforts and assist you to continue in this path that the ummah holds the sin and burden of not doing enough on, beside so many other matters. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihe rajioon. Jazakumullahukhayran ----------------------------- Did you talk to Imam Zaid Shakir? He and his wife are aware of Aafia's case and [are] very sympathetic… Do speak to him and Imam Siraj Wahhaj of course. He is also at the convention and got the community recognition award this year. ------------------------------------ AA, Mauri, ----------------------------------- May peace be upon you and your family and the Blessings of Allah This is shameful and a disgrace to face this reality, but it is a REALITY. But I'm not sure if I would take the same path twice. I wish I was with you to take the next level in sacrificing my freedom which I believe will maximize the attention to our Muslim sister (Aafia Siddiqui ). But what ever path you chose, Allah, I and others like me will be with you. My dueha's and LOVE go's out to My brother ---------------------------- Inna Lilla hi Wa Inna Ila Rejoin ---------------------------- The following comes from a non-Muslim activist (from upstate New York) who was present when we demonstrated outside of the Washington, DC Convention Center last year - on the first day of ISNA's 2009 convention. We were not demonstrating against ISNA, but against U.S. policies toward the Muslim world (both here and abroad). Dear Mauri', I was very sad to read your description of what happened to you on Independence Day. This demonstrates that the effect [of] preemptive prosecution of Muslims goes beyond destroying families, it goes to destroying communities - making the Muslim community turn on itself. I mean HOLDING A SIGN? You were tossed out of ISNA for HOLDING A SIGN???? Last year, we all came to Washington, I did not really understand why we were all outside on the hot sidewalk while everyone else was inside. Now, I understand. Thank you for all of the work that you do. I hope to see you on July 21 at NYC City Hall for Alicia McWilliams' rally, and then again at the Peace Conference July 23-25. ----------------------------- WOW! Alhamdulilah, Again - I pray Allah will continue to bless you with His Deen, ameen ----------------------------- As-Salaam Alaikum My own thoughts on what's been said I begin with a deeply felt note of thanks for the prayers and best wishes that have come from so many in the wake of this controversy. In addition to the e-mails (and text) that you've just read, I also received a number of calls from friends and family who wanted to insure that I was alright. What you've just read are ALL of the printed messages I've received in response to this incident to date. They are representative of a broad cross-section of opinion – i.e. Muslims (predominantly) as well as non-Muslims; men and women; leaders, activists, and everyday concerned folk. At this time I would like to respond to a number of the questions and issues raised. With that said, I should point out, in closing, that the purpose of me sending out this list of responses is not simply to cause ISNA more embarrassment. It's in the hope of shaking them up a little. These are ALL of the e-mail responses I've seen on this issue. A few are critical of me; the vast majority are critical of ISNA. But let me be clear about something…this is not just about the ISNA organization. NOT ONE MAJOR MUSLIM ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA HAS PUBLICLY RAISED ITS VOICE IN DEFENSE OF AAFIA SIDDIQUI (OR IN PROTEST FOR THE WAY SHE'S BEEN TREATED), NOR EVEN ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE SUPPORT FOR HER, IN THE TWO YEARS THAT THIS OPPRESSED SISTER HAS BEEN IN AMERICA! NOT ONE! SHAME ON US!!! (And for the record, this is not the first time a fellow Muslim threatened to have me arrested for advocating for Aafia! It also happened at an Islamic center in central New Jersey, not too long ago.) I raised an admittedly provocative question a few weeks back concerning the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The question was: ARE AMERICAN MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS IN COLLUSION WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN THE CASE OF DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI? The answer to that question is an emphatic YES! Because silence in the face of oppression (when you have the capacity to do something more than merely detest the oppression in your heart) is taken as consent! And depending on the circumstance, it can also translate into aiding and abetting the crime of oppression. I close with wise nasiha of the 4th Rightly Guided Caliph of Islam, Ali ibn abu-Talib (may ALLAH be pleased with him), who said: "Four classes of men [and women] are cut off from the blessings of Paradise: oppressors; those who aid and abet oppression; and those who tolerate oppression." May ALLAH guide, fortify, and have mercy on us. Ameen. The struggle continues, El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
I read your recall of the unfortunate display of arrogance of ISNA and its hypocrite personnel. Long time ago I have come to know that this institution hates that which Allaah loves and loves that which Allaah hates. It has no good will for the true issues of Islam and Muslims in America let alone throughout the world.
Do not be dismayed by the lack of compassion in this hypocrite organization. How in the world could they gather in thousands and not say a word about an issue that the previous Muslims sent a whole empire to war for its cause? Haroon Arrashid sent his whole Muslim empire to war, jeoperdizing the existence of Islam and Muslims for just one Muslim sister.
ISNA knows that, because they taught us that in the 80s when they use to collect money for Afghanistan. But now that oppressor is the big guy they changed their mind and consequently their Deen too. Woe to them for ever if they dont repent.
I know you do not need my words of encouragement, but go ahead and strive for the cause of our political prisoners. Allah knows you and he will raise your name and fame in a way that you never have imagined, and he will reward you with Firdows.
Wassalaam
I totally understand and appreciate your cause. However, I believe ISNA reserved all the rights to the convention center and that is something we must understand and appreciate. At the end of the day conventions do not do a lot - the emphasis is on celebrity shaikhs, bazaar, food, flirting, cruise, etc. I went to it already and it is not that much to hold on to save/maintain your iman.
Best wishes brother Salakhan - keep up the great work you are doing.
I am sadden by this news but am not surprised at all to hear this, Unfortunately many people are afraid of their own shadows and do not want any controversy, and think if they aquese to the government they will not be harmed. It is clear that they have learned nothing from history and are following a pseudo practice of Islam. Keep up with your good work and InshAllah you and your family are protected.
Could you have setup the sign and handed your flier in the bazaar only?
May Allah bless you with success in this effort to seek justice.
I was dismayed by what took place but not surprised. There should have been a free booth for what you do to inform the Muslims, many of whom don't care to know.
Wassalam
I understand your frustration, all you wanted to do was to bring to the attention, the case of Aafia.
I do hope you would understand their frustration of managing an unplanned thing. In the events I do, I usually have an open table for people to share their information, found out, there was bad literature, sales literature set out there, so we quit accommodating any one in the last minute.
Next time, when they announce the conference, please schedule it in advance with them, so they can plan and run the event as smoothly as they can. Thanks for finding the audience outside and not fighting with them at the center. Good job.
I am not surprised at all, what did you expect from them? You know better than that ! ! !
Call the police for carrying a sign of good cause, supporting a woman? Shame on ISNA
Thank you for your courage and stamina. Why am I not surprised by their callous reaction. Allahuakbar.
--
Palash Biswas
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