Newsletter (April 2023): Congressional Briefing, Annual Persecution Report & IAMC National Convention

May 11, 2023

Newsletter (April 2023): Congressional Briefing, Annual Persecution Report & IAMC National Convention

Assalaamu Alaikum and greetings of peace!

On behalf of the Indian American Muslim Council, we hope that you had a spiritually rejuvenating Ramadan and a festive Eid with your family and friends.

Throughout the month of Ramadan, our brothers and sisters in India continued to face persecution and discrimination. The Hindu festival of Ram Navami was once again weaponized to attack Muslims, their homes, businesses and places of worship.

It is important that we continue to pray and advocate for our brothers and sisters who are oppressed in India and ensure their basic human rights be respected and protected.

Eid Celebration on Capitol Hill

IAMC hosted close to 100 people, including staffers from over a dozen offices for a delicious lunch, celebration of Indian Muslim Heritage, and Jummah prayer led by Imam Mohammed Adam of Ivy City Masjid in Washington, D.C.

Attendees listened attentively to Imam Mohammed and later watched a video of the contribution of Muslim immigrants in India from architecture, to cuisine, and even poetry/film.

We are excited for future events celebrating Muslims on the hill!

Prominent Indian Activists Attend IAMC Congressional Briefing

Our most recent Congressional Briefing organized as a part of a coalition featured prominent Indian Journalists and Activists who focused on the “Weaponization of Hindu Festivals to Target Muslims.” The Panel of speakers included Shaheen Abdulla, Sharjeel Usmani, Aasif Mujtaba, and Kavita Srivastava.

The experts warned that hate crimes are being carried out against Indian Muslims on a massive scale during Hindu festivals, indicating a genocidal climate against Muslims in India.

Hindu supremacists weaponizing their religious festivals to launch massive attacks on Muslims across India is a sign that the nation is on “the road to genocide,” said Indian human rights activist Kavita Srivastava at a Congressional Briefing on April 19.

IAMC hosts Virtual Ramadan Fundraiser

On April 1, we held a virtual Ramadan Fundraiser and it was a great success! IAMC National staffer Husnaa Vhora hosted the event which featured:

Imam Abdulhakum Mohamed, the CEO of North American Imams Federation and the Executive Director of the islamic Center of Tacoma,
Imam Zaid Shakir a prominent American Muslim scholar and a professor emeritus and board observer of Zaytuna College
Ajit Sahi, IAMC’s Advocacy Director

The virtual fundraiser concluded with the introduction of new IAMC leadership, President Mohamamd Jawad from New Jersey, and National Secretary Ishaq Syed from the Bay Area, and a farewell to the now-former President Syed Ali and National Secretary Humayun Rashid, both from the Dallas chapter. Vice-President Khalid Ansari from North Carolina graciously retained his position and welcomed his new colleagues.

We thank everyone who donated to support our cause! We are thankful to our past executives for their dedication and contributions and excited for our new leadership to continue the legacy of those who came before them.

IAMC Chapter Updates

Our chapters have been hard at work the past couple of months between multiple nationwide efforts. Back in March, IAMC held screenings of the BBC Documentary “India: The Modi Question,” which has been banned in India for examining Modi’s role in the anti-Muslim carnage.

Both independently and with partner organizations, our chapters hosted over 20 documentary screenings, including in Atlanta, Washington, D.C, Maryland, California, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Virginia, and Tennessee, which were attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life. These screenings featured panel discussions with Imran Dawood, Gujarat pogrom survivor; Yusuf Dawood, Imran’s uncle; and Dr. Aakashi Bhatt, daughter of jailed whistleblower Sanjiv Bhatt.

This month, multiple chapters including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Florida, Michigan,and New Jersey participated in Ramadan Roadshows. The purpose of this is to bring awareness, recruit volunteers, and raise funds to support IAMC and our cause.

We would like to give a special shout out to the Atlanta chapter for doing eight roadshows and the Boston chapter for doing six roadshows!

Additionally, our Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Seattle chapters all co-hosted events related to honoring B.R Ambedkar, one of the most prominent social reformers and political leaders of India’s history. Our chapters understand that coalition and partner building are one of the most important ways to fight for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

We are grateful to our chapters for their hard work and dedication for the Indian Muslim cause!

From IAMC’s Genocide Monitoring Desk

IAMC Media Department Updates

IAMC condemns U.S. Commerce Secretary’s praise for PM Modi amid minority persecution

The Indian American Muslim Council, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, has condemned the recent comments made by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite the ongoing persecution of religious minorities, journalists, activists and critics in India.