Newsletter (Jan-Feb 2025): SPLC Features IAMC, Annual Report Released, and Ramadan Events Nationwide
As salamu alaykum, and Ramadan Kareem!
On behalf of the Indian American Muslim Council, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful and blessed Ramadan. May Allah accept our fasting, our prayers, and our duas, and may He accept our efforts in the cause of bettering the lives of the Muslim community.
We’ve had a whirlwind of a start to 2025. The IAMC family, from the team at National to our chapter volunteers, has been hard at work with outreach, advocacy, and education. Keep scrolling to read everything we’ve accomplished.
Here’s our bullet point summary:
BULLET POINT SUMMARY:
- Our Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed was featured in an interview series by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) on Hindutva
- We held Republic Day celebrations in five U.S. states
- Hosted a workshop at the widely-attended MSA West Conference in San Francisco
- Released our 2025 report, which covers the extent of human rights abuses against minorities throughout the past year
- Hosted a webinar on the Role of Faith Leaders in Peace-Building
AND DON’T MISS OUT ON:
- Ramadan events and iftars hosted by chapters across the country
- Our new internship and fellowship program for students (more details at the bottom!)
- Our Advocacy Team’s monthly webinars
Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these achievements and opportunities in detail.
SPLC’s Hindu Supremacy in the United States
IAMC INTERVIEWED FOR SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
Our Associate Media Director, Safa Ahmed, was featured as an expert in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) interview series on Hindu Supremacy in the United States. SPLC is one of America’s most renowned civil rights organizations, and we’re honored that they featured us and our coalition partners within Savera: United Against Supremacy for this impactful interview series.
You can listen to the full series here.
IAMC AT MSA WEST
Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed also led an educational workshop on Hindutva and Zionism for college students attending MSA West, a conference that attracts bright Muslim student leaders from across the West Coast in the hundreds.
The workshop broke down the parallels between the two supremacist ideologies, explained the Hindutva-Zionist playbook, and tackled the question of how to best combat these forces.
OUR WEBINAR FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK
For Interfaith Harmony Week, IAMC partnered with The London Story and Hindus for Human Rights for a webinar titled “The Role of Faith Leaders in Peace-Building.” Panelists shared their experiences addressing religious conflicts and the ongoing challenges to interfaith harmony. Experts from academia and civil society also discussed threats to religious freedom.
Speakers included:
- Prof. Stipe Odak, expert in social, political, and theological studies
- Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights
- Rev. Neal Christie, Principal, Religious Nationalisms Project
Moderated by IAMC Advocacy Associate Husnaa Vhora, this webinar kicks off a new monthly series — so don’t miss any of our upcoming web events!
REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS
To honor the spirit of democracy and pluralism, our chapters hosted celebrations commemorating Republic Day and the spirit of Indian democracy in five cities across the United States.
Events were hosted in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Buffalo, and New Jersey, featuring flag-hoisting ceremonies, inspiring speeches, cultural programs, displays of unity between faith groups, and community engagement activities.
ANNUAL REPORT
IAMC’s Media Team compiled hundreds of news reports, social media posts, and other verified sources to create our Annual Report, which covers India’s deepening human rights crisis throughout 2024.
The report covers the spike in anti-Muslim hate speech during India’s general elections, Hindu militant mob violence, lynchings, police brutality, voter suppression, punitive home and mosque demolitions, press censorship, and transnational repression.
You can read a summary of the report here.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
Our chapters are doing it all – engaging in advocacy campaigns with local lawmakers, marching in protests, planning events and iftars, and above all, making sure the plight of Indian Muslims stays at the forefront of our minds.
Here’s what they’ve been up to.
Atlanta
- Hosted a Republic Day celebration with over 250 attendees, featuring the hoisting of the Indian flag, the singing of the National Anthem, poetry, and group songs
- Sponsored Muslim Advocacy Day at the Georgia State Capitol, using the opportunity to meet several state senators and representatives
Boston
- Hosted a Republic Day event during which speakers discussed India’s diversity, the day’s significance, the Indian Constitution’s history, and the importance of equal rights, and universal suffrage.
Buffalo
- Celebrated India’s Republic Day at the University of Buffalo, where chapter executives spoke on the importance of remembering the Indian Muslim struggle
Dallas
- The chapter’s executive team flew to Austin to attend the Texas Capitol Opening Day, where they engaged with legislators, activists, and policymakers to shed light on the ongoing human rights violations in India
- Worked with coalition partners to host a peaceful protest against Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent controversial comments on B.R. Ambedkar
- Participated in an event hosted by the Center of Excellence for Community Services, fostering critical discussions with the FBI team
- Held a Zoom dua session as a tribute to the life and legacy of the valiant fighter of justice, Zakia Jafri
New Jersey
- Hosted a film screening of “Prisoner No. 626710 Is Present,” a film on Umar Khalid’s incarceration for speaking against injustice. The event was held at the Edison Public Library and featured a Q&A with filmmaker Lalit Vachani.
Michigan
- Held its annual fundraiser on February 15th, featuring keynote speaker Linda Sarsour. Over 100 attendees listened to her fiery, passionate address.
DON’T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES!
IAMC’s Ramadan Roadshow
This Ramadan, chapters across the country are participating in on IAMC’s annual Ramadan Roadshow, in which IAMC volunteers set up booths and give presentations in masajid to educate local communities on what’s happening in India, collect donations, and get people involved in our work.
Contact your local chapter to see if they’re planning a roadshow you can participate in!
IAMC’s newly-launched Omar Khalidi Scholars Program
If you know any undergraduate or graduate students looking for an internship/fellowship, look no further than IAMC’s Omar Khalidi Scholars Program.
The OKSP offers flexible, remote, in-person, and hybrid internships designed to give the next generation of leaders hands-on experience working in the field of protecting human rights and democracy. Students can choose from the following tracks:
- Governmental Advocacy – Engage with policymakers, research legislation, and contribute to campaigns in Washington, DC.
- Media & Research – Conduct research, write reports and op-eds, and help shape IAMC’s media advocacy strategies.
- Community Outreach – Mobilize support for human rights and social justice through events and campaigns.
- Campus Outreach – Lead student discussions, workshops, and initiatives to amplify awareness on pressing issues.
Learn more and apply here: https://iamc.com/omar-khalidi-scholars-program/
A webinar on countering authoritarianism and supremacy
Our multifaith, multiracial coalition, Savera, is partnering with acclaimed research center Political Research Associates (PRA) to host a webinar titled “Countering Hindu Supremacy and the Multiracial Far Right Amidst the Authoritarian Onslaught.”
We’re witnessing a dangerous rise in authoritarianism—our communities are under attack, power is being concentrated at the top, and the same far-right tactics are spreading globally. It’s natural to feel afraid, but fear alone won’t move us forward. What we need is clear-eyed analysis, collective action, and a shared vision rooted in strength and hope.
This webinar will answer questions like:
- Why are some communities of color moving into this authoritarian coalition (what scholars call a ‘multiracial far right’)?
- What is the Hindu supremacist movement, in India and then in the US?
- How are actors in the multiracial far right leveraging their status as minorities to attack civil rights gains and divide our coalitions?
This will be an interactive briefing, so bring your thoughts, your ideas, and questions! Registration is required: bit.ly/CounteringHinduSupremacyWebinar
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