FYI, wish l had received it earlier for folks in Atlanta who may have had an
interest in attending.
PRESS RELEASE
EQUALITY OF MUSLIM WOMEN and MEN
BASED ON QUR'AN and SUNNAH
Islamic Symposium in Atlanta Condemns Abuse of Women
Representatives from Jamaat al-Muslimeen International, Baitul
Salaam Network Atlanta and Tawheed Center ,Baltimore gathered in Stone
Mountain (Atlanta), Georgia to analyze the struggle of Muslim women. The
sympo
sium convened by Sis. Hadayai Majeed urged Muslim women to stand up for
their
rights to equality in all fields of life as taught in the Qur'an and
authentic Hadith.
The activities began on October 29 with a juma' Khutba at masjid
al-Muminun by Dr. Kaukab Siddique, Ameer of Jamaat al-Muslimeen. The topic
was "UNITY MUST BE BASED IN QUR'AN AND SUNNAH." The khateeb pointed out that
mosques which do not encourage men and women to work together are
contributing to the breakup of the family system in America. Dr. Kaukab
urged
the Muslims to oppose OPPRESSION and called for united efforts to STOP THE
IMPRISONMENT OF SHAIKH OMAR 'ABDEL RAHMAN. He condemned sanctions against
Islamic Sudan and urged Muslims to make sure the U.S. does not take steps
against Sudan. The Khutba was highly praised by the audience who came to
greet the khateeb after Juma'.
The Symposium began that evening with an introductory session with
IMAM ALI SIDDIQUI from Los Angeles, California as keynote speaker. The
learned Imam urged Muslims to increase their spiritual enlightenment and to
constantly send salutations on Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). Imam Ali,
who is the founder of DARUL IFTA in America described the suffering of
Muslims who are given advice by religious bodies in Saudi Arabia and other
countries. This advice from overseas is extremely damaging for the Islamic
life of Muslims in America because these overseas muftis have little
understanding of the situation in America. An effort is being made by Jamaat
al-Muslimeen to develop branches of Darul Ifta all over America, the speaker
pointed out. There was extensive question and answer session after Imam
Ali's
speech.
The main panel session was held on October 30. The guest
speakers were :
Dr. Kaukab Siddique (Baltimore, Maryland)
Sis. Baseemah Lagander (Charleston, West Virginia)
Sis. Nisa' Ameen (Denver, Colorado)
Sis. Ashira Na'im (Baltimore, Maryland)
Imam Ali Siddiqui (Los Angeles)
Sis. Kareemah Abdullah (Atlanta)
The Chairperson was Sis. Hadayai Majeed of Bailtul Salaam
Network.
A representative from the non-Muslim communities also spoke.
The room was full of sisters in Islamic dress (hijab) .
The speakers addressed the issues related to the abuse of women in
Muslim and non-Muslim societies and proposed remedies.
In a powerful presentation Sis. Ashira Na'im, Secretary General of
Jamaat al-Muslimeen,condemned the second class status of Muslim women in
mosques. She said that Islam is a liberating force and Muslim women have not
given up subservience to America's culture only to be treated shabbily by
Muslim men. She urged Muslim women to go the mosques with her and reclaim
their space. Mosques, she pointed out, should be patterned after the example
of the Prophet's (pbuh) mosque where equal participation and shoora of all
believers was the rule. Muslim women are at least half the Muslim population
and as they have children with them, they should have more than half the
space in mosques, she taught. Instead Muslim women are being shoved into a
little corner at the back of the mosque, she pointed out.
Sis. Raiza, Director of Tawheed Center in Baltimore, and Br.
Salahuddin, National Ameer of Jamaat al-Muslimeen, spoke words of advice and
example from the floor.
The program concluded with a stirring du'a from Imam Ali
Siddiqui.
Dr. Kaukab Siddique's book THE STRUGGLE OF MUSLIM WOMEN sold fast
following the symposium. New Trend magazine which he edits was distributed
to all participants and in various Atlanta communities.
On October 31, guest speakers visited the sanctuary which has been
built by Baitul Salaam in Atlanta for abused women and women in transience.
The program will be published with photos in the forthcoming
issue of New Trend. A copy can be ordered for $1 from: New Trend, P.O. Box
356, Kingsville, MD 21087, USA
For Darul Ifta contact: [log in to unmask]
For Baitul Salaam contact: Haleem 1
For Jamaat al-Muslimeen: Ash [log in to unmask]
>>
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