Newsletter (Nov 2023): Hindutva Awareness Campaign; Protests for Palestine & Jacobin Editorial
As salamu alaykum!
As wind down towards the end of the year, we’re pleased to bring you our November 2023 newsletter, featuring all our major activities this past month.
BULLET POINT SUMMARY:
- IAMC continued to co-sponsor and join protests for Palestine
- Held National Hindutva Awareness Campaign meetings
- Spoke on Indian Muslim persecution at the ICNA Convention
Raised the issue of the Naperville Quran burning before the Department of Justice - Published multiple OPEDs on Hindutva and Zionism and anti-caste movement in CA
HOLDING NATIONAL HINDUTVA AWARENESS CAMPAIGN MEETINGS
Our advocacy team has been hard at work scheduling and hosting National Hindutva Awareness Campaign meetings with local legislators, city officials, and mayoral offices across the country. This campaign educates elected officials about Hindutva and shows them how to recognize its talking points, dog whistles, and political stances.
RAISED NAPERVILLE QURAN BURNING INCIDENT WITH DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Following the shocking Quran burning by a Naperville high school student, most likely under Hindutva influences, IAMC raised this case at an interagency meeting hosted by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on November 6, 2023. IAMC also spoke on the Hindutva-related intimidations against Indian American Muslims in New Jersey and Texas.
This is a quarterly meeting of Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs, South Asians, and Hindus organized by the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, with participation from the US Department of State, the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of Transportation, the US Department of Labor, the US Department of Education, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others.
OUR ADVOCACY OUTREACH
IAMC is always engaged in Congressional and advocacy outreach. Every week, IAMC has a presence at meetings hosted by the International Religious Freedom (IRF) roundtable, the IRF India Working Group, the American Bar Association India Working Group, Congressional staffers and officials, and other collaborations with civil society partners.
We also worked with Dr. Aakashi Bhatt, daughter of jailed Gujarat pogrom whistleblower Sanjiv Bhatt, to draft a letter calling on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to add Sanjiv Bhatt to the body’s Freedom of Religion and Belief Victim List. Signatories for the letter are currently being collected among advocacy groups in the US and UK.
Additionally, we are hard at work planning our upcoming Congressional Briefing on India’s abuse of counterterrorism legislation for early 2024.
IAMC MEDIA TEAM
The Hindu right has channeled their anti-Muslim hatred into amplifying anti-Palestinian in support of Zionists, and they’ve weaponized their political power in the US to shut down caste protection laws. Of course, IAMC has something to say about that. You can learn more about both these issues in this month’s op-eds:
Jacobin: “Why Far-Right Hindus Love Demonizing Palestinians”
Capital Weekly: Newsom veto plays into Hindu nationalist agenda
We also had something to say to the mainstream media about supporting Palestine from the diaspora, systemic anti-Muslim persecution, and media censorship. Check out this month’s press mentions:
Washington Post: How India tamed Twitter and set a global standard for online censorship
The Juggernaut: Amid Calls for Peace, Many South Asians are “Utterly Heartbroken”
Democracy Now: Vermont Police Arrest Suspect in Shooting of 3 Palestinian Students
Outlook: US Senator Moves Resolution Asking India To End ‘Systematic Religious Persecution’
Religion News Service: When it comes to defusing Hindu-Muslim tensions, college kids may know best
KERA News: Pro-Palestinian rallygoers in Dallas renew calls for ceasefire, end to Israeli occupation
Sabrang India: US senator floats resolution to end religious, political ‘persecution’ of minorities in India
You can keep up with all of our press mentions here.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
Our chapters across the country spent November marching, protesting, going on strike, and holding events to raise awareness for both Muslims and India and innocents in Palestine. Read more about their achievements below:
Atlanta
- Joined the Georgia Muslim Coalition in organizing a week-long hunger strike at the offices of Georgia senators to protest in support of a ceasefire in Gaza
- Co-sponsored and attended the Free Palestine protest
- Co-signed statement by CAIR GA-led Atlanta Interfaith Coalition supporting a Ceasefire in Gaza
- Attended the community reception by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) for Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, the new Indian Consul General for Atlanta
Boston
- Cosponsored an event with journalist Azad Essa titled “Understanding the Alliance between India and Israel” at MIT
- Represented IAMC at the annual event of the Association for India’s Development, a Boston-based coalition
- Organized IAMC events at 4 different Islamic centers promoting the IAMC Boston Fundraiser, including by giving with a talk on Hindutva and showing an IAMC presentation
- Participated in protests for Gaza at Congressman Jake Auchincloss’s office
Detroit
- Engaged in several protests advocating for a ceasefire in support of Palestine
- Conducted a demonstration outside the office of Representative Haley Stevens
Houston
- A member of the Houston chapter spoke on the rising dangers of Hindutva in the US and India at ICNA Regional Convention in Houston
New Jersey
- Met New Jersey lawmakers on Muslim Advocacy Day to educate about increasing Islamophobia and denial of civil liberties to Muslims
- Held educational awareness event with Dr. Abdul Qadeer, founder of the Shaheen Group of Educational Institutions, and Dr. Zubair Hudawi, founder and director of Qurtuba Foundation
- Hosted meeting with Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, father of Umar Khalid
Hosted meet and greet with Bollywood actor Zeeshan Ayyub - Co-sponsored and attended multiple pro-Palestine protests
Richmond
- Attended events and meetings held by Richmond chapter of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) to show solidarity and build a relationship
- Hosted Richmond chapter meeting
- Attended local pro-Palestine protests
More
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