37 replies to this topic

[HasanR]

SA,
I just wanted to mention that this email was not written by me nor necessarily reflects my view. However as this email is being circulated out there, its best that we are aware of all views to come to a sound decision. Thanks.

HR


ALIMS CALL FOR THE BOYCOTT OF UMAA CONVENTION

Memorial Day Weekend 2003 marked the beginning of a movement for Shias in
the United States.  Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA) held
their first Shia convention and Muslims across the country felt a great
pride in such a beginning.  Shias flocked to the convention in Washington
D.C. to show their support and pride for the endeavor.  However, the
convention brought us disappointment and regret as we saw the invitation of
Paul Wolfowitz as the keynote speaker.  We were further saddened as the
board of UMAA engaged in questionable decisions and made controversial
statements against our Ulema and Marjas.  We would like to take this time to
explain to you the controversy surrounding UMAA and leave it up to you to
decide as to whether such an organization deserves to be supported.

Last year, Paul Wolfowitz, deputy defense secretary to the Bush White House,
addressed a room full of dinner guests at the first UMAA convention.  The
$100 a plate dinner was reserved for the upper class and no one under 18 was
allowed to attend.  As the Muslim elite enjoyed the company of a White House
official, Wolfowitz seized this opportunity to criticize Iran, all the
meanwhile those in attendance lapped it up and offered him countless
standing ovations.  Wolfowitz, dubbed as the mind behind the Iraq war and a
staunch neo-con, whose support for Israel is widely known, was especially
invited by the UMAA organizers.  When questioned on inviting such an
opposing personality to the Muslim cause, organizers stated that the only
way Shias can gain anything in the United States is if they align themselves
with those in power.  An excerpt from an article by Stephen Schwartz
claimed, “He [Agha Shaukat Jafri, a Shia community leader in New York and
organizer of the UMAA convention] described the reception for Wolfowitz as
"very warm.”  He added: "We should thank the Bush administration for
liberating the Shias of Iraq.  I think Dr. Wolfowitz understands our
viewpoint and our deep opposition to extremism.  We were thrilled to have
him attend and to hear his words."  To this, we ask: do the UMAA organizers
view Shias in the United States at the mercy of the Bush administration?

At an event at the Shah-e-Najaf center in New York City, Shaukat Jafri, a
spokesperson for UMAA stated, “We [UMAA board] do not believe that the
Marajiyat should get involved with Shia Affairs in the US.  Realizing the
audacity of his words, he quickly tried to make amends by claiming, “Don’t
get me wrong, we have Alims on our advisory board.  However, one only has to
do a little research to find out that UMAA has only one Alim on their board,
Maulana Mostapha Qazwini, and we should point out that he is from
California, whereas the meetings and work for the convention is done and
held in the New York/Washington/Maryland area.  He has little say in the
affairs of UMAA and serves as a figurehead, only to allow UMAA
administrators to claim that they have the backing of an Alim when
questioned about their religious legitimacy.

Many people have linked the convention last year to a literal “meat market,”
the likes of ICNA and ISNA events.  Last year many people were appalled at
the show of indecency by the women and asked the organizers to request that
the women observe hijab.  The response they were given was that “this isn’t
a religious event but a social one.”  As a result of the convention being a
“social event,” Islamic laws are not practiced or upheld and “mingling” and
casual “get-to-know sessions” are encouraged.  This year UMAA will be the
host to the "See and Be Seen" workshops headed by a Toronto Matrimonial
website.  We would like to pose a question… we always thought that Islam was
not a religion but a way of life, is UMAA trying to preach something
differently?

It appalls us that people such a Daniel Pipes are in support of the
organization.  Need we remind you that Pipes thinks that all Muslims are
potential terrorists.  Jewish organizations are also coming out in support
of UMAA.  The Israel-News Today, published by the United Jerusalem
Foundation, iterates its support for American Muslim Congress and United
Muslims Association of America (UMAA).  Why would a Jewish group support a
Muslim event?  Unless, of course, it benefited them…

Local Alims in New York City along with Alims such as Hujjat al Islam Sayyad
Muhammad Rizvi (Toronto, CA), Hujjat al Islam Hassan Qazwini (Dearborne,
MI), and Hujjat al Islam Shamshad Haider all have asked that people boycott
the convention due to the many ills associated with such an organization.  
If Shias attend the UMAA Convention, the organizers will use the number to
legitimize issuing statements that represent only their views and their
stance on issues.  For example, the recent article written by Shaukat Jafri,
called for the assassination of Al Sadr in Iraq. Please see link for the
full story: http://www.nationalr...00404160940.asp  
Mind you, at the bottom of the article, Jafri identified himself as a
spokesperson for UMAA.  When questioned, UMAA claimed that the article does
not represent their organization yet failed to issue a statement distancing
themselves from it.

We need to send a clear message to the UMAA administrators that their
obvious misrepresentation of our religion will not be tolerated.  They claim
to represent all Shias in the United States; however, their organization
caters to the ideologies of a select few.

We bring you this information, not to taint the image of UMAA, but to inform
you of the profound ways in which the Shia name is being trampled upon by
these so-called representatives of Shias in America.  We would like to
remind you that members of this group aligned themselves with UMAA when it
first came out last year and supported it by attending the convention and
volunteering to help promote it and make it successful.  However, we are not
deaf, dumb, or blind.  UMAA is a disease waiting to infect the real Shia
cause in the United States.


************************************************************************
This email is being sent to over 200 Shias that attended the 2003 UMAA
Convention in Washington D.C.  To add others to this list, please email us
their address and we will send them our emails.
************************************************************************

Message from Maulana Shamshad Haider, resident Alim at MOMIN Center in
Dallas, TX

Brothers and Sisters

Assalamu Alaykum

I have been repeatedly asked on the email as well as by phone about
the UMAA convention. For those who would want to know, I have to
say the following:

This convention is organized by the supporters of the current US
administration from our Shia community. Others who are involved either
do not have any understanding of Islamic politics or want to fool
themselves.

The organizers had contacted me this year also, and I advised them
to close down this convention because they do not have any political
mandate from the Shia community to show support for this administration.

They invited Paul Wolfowtz the architect of the Iraq war to their convention
last year.

There are elements within the Shia community who have a certain dislike for
the Islamic revolution, Imam Khomeini or Islamic government in Iran. Such
people are usually supported by the western governments to win the hearts of
the liberals within the Shia Muslim community in the West.

If such elements are not flushed out, they will become a menace for our
community that will mislead many more.
Allah (swt) is the Guardian of the believers.

Shamshad Haider

Islamic Scholar in Residence
Islamic Center of MOMIN

Edited by HasanR, 28 May 2004 - 06:04 AM.

[Haji 2003]

People can be judged by the company they keep.

[Syedzadi]

Well the email just regurgitates what has been said on shiachat in the previous posts regarding UMAA.  

Doesn't seem as if there is any new information in it.  

Quote

People can be judged by the company they keep.

If you notice it says that this email was sent to those who attended the UMAA conference last year.  I got one too, and I have no idea who it is from.

[Dhulfiqar]

The Weekly Standard

An Unconventional Convention

Shia Muslims gather in Washington to express their
support for the Coalition in Iraq, and ideas for going
forward.
by Stephen Schwartz
05/27/2004 5:30:00 PM

Full text: http://www.weeklysta...04/142efcio.asp

Wa Salaam,
Dhulfiqar

[naqvi_haider]

Quote

Local Alims in New York City along with Alims such as Hujjat al Islam Sayyad
Muhammad Rizvi (Toronto, CA), Hujjat al Islam Hassan Qazwini (Dearborne,
MI), and Hujjat al Islam Shamshad Haider all have asked that people boycott
the convention due to the many ills associated with such an organization.

I think this is not completely correct. In the program schedule available on the UMAA website, it includes lectures from Hssan Qazwini and his brother Mustafa Qazwini.

Haider

[faithmuslima]

Salam Alaykum.

Quote

Local Alims in New York City along with Alims such as Hujjat al Islam Sayyad Muhammad Rizvi (Toronto, CA), Hujjat al Islam Hassan Qazwini (Dearborne, MI),

Any reference indicating Sayyed Qazwini does not support the UMAA?

[DaSouljah]

Imam Qazwini is attending the conference,, however when I spoke to him he had absolutely no idea about the invitiation of Shirin Ebadi and some of the controversy that is with the conference. When I did tell him he informed me they had already brought a ticket for him and what not. Other than that I do not know, I will not be attending.

[Dhulfiqar]

Fine, remove Qazwini and add Mahboob and Matloob Najafi.

Wa Salaam,
Dhulfiqar

[naqvi_haider]

Anyway, I already boycotted the convention.

Last year I went there but this year I decided not to go.

Haider

[Dhulfiqar]

Salaamun 'Alaikum,

Brother Rahat, if what you say is true than we have succeeded. The Ulema have succeeded and the Shi'as with a conscience have succeeded. Reformation comes from the general masses not the elite few.

MashaAllah to all the individuals that strove to change and reform the few that considered themselves the representatives of all.

And inshaAllah, what Brother Rahat perspective is is a majority view not only his. We all pray for this; the telling times will tell.

Wa Salaam,
Dhulfiqar

Edited by Dhulfiqar, 31 May 2004 - 09:31 PM.

[skylight]

This is very good news - do we have any other info., who spoke at the banquet? (Where our dear wofly spoke last year) - inshallah, if things keep going in this direction - i'll be sure to attend next year...

[DaSouljah]

I'm glad it went well. But I think one thing that played important was all the letters that were sent AGAINST and the calls for boycott of the organization that changed the convention a bit., alhamdulillah. Let's see what happens in the coming weeks (in the articles, etc). But Brother Rahat, I have one question.. why did Moulana Rafiq Naqvi boycott the event? The local resident alim? Be honest - and this is a fair question.

Wa Salaam,
Abbas

PS: How many people came? I heard at most 500?

Edited by DaSouljah, 01 June 2004 - 01:30 AM.

[DaSouljah]

I am pasting a review of a maryland youth who attended the convention -

Quote

Salam.  I agree with bro lazyali totally, that UMAA is nothing more than a social event.  If that is what is was meant to be or not is not the case, that is what it has turned into.  But that is not the biggest problem.  The problem is the foundation of the event.  It is obvious that the event started just to compete with ISNA, which is a 40 year old organization by the way and has some semblance of what it is doing.  So right away the intention isnt religious but it is competitive.  Next, some shady people have endorsed UMAA and have been invited to speak the UMAA such as the crazy shia hater guy who was invited from Egypt last year i forget his name.    The most notable, and most disturbing, endorsment comes from Daniel Pipes.  If anyone hasnt heard of him, hes basically a crazy zionist who calls present day islam as a "barbaric" islam and wants to introduce a new "progressive" Islam.  and herein lies the biggest problem.  this is compounded by the joke of a nobel prize winner shirin ebadi's islamic "revolution".  Yes she wore hijab at the convention thats fine and good, but the only human rights acts she has done is to "liberate" women from this "Opressive" aspect of Islam.  this is the biggest problem bc it is obvious that this convetnion supports a watered down version of Islam to make it seem appealing to the general public.  Almost all of the stances taken by the UMAA board echo the Bush administration and seem to be made just to garner some interest from the government brass. 

there are many conspiracy theories about how zionists support UMAA and stuff like that, and im not sure about that.  but the biggest problem is the peddling of this "progressive" Islam which is much more destructive to our religion that any wahabbi could be bc people actually r buying into this wack idea.  UMAA itself has said that this is a social event and that they dont need the support of a'lims bc they want to be more secular.  These arent wild claims by the way and are being echoed by many of the a'lims who didnt attend the event.  It is a sort of impressive list of people who attended, but it is also an impressive list of people who did not attend, including our own moulana naqvi who helped spearhead the convention in the first place.  it is clearly a majority of alims in america who did not attend and im sure they arent just going on some conspiracy theory.

well i dont want to keep rambling, but truth be told there are a lot of problems with this convetion, enough to make it counterproductive to us shias.  and changing a keynote speaker here or there isnt going to fix it, bc the foundation is weak and in order to have an event on this grand of a scale, i  would imagine a little more precatuion and oversight would be used, which obviously has not.  Turning it into a secular event is dangerous and will harm our ummah more than any crazy wahabbi could.

[skylight]

the watered down version of "progressive islam" that they are peddling - is Daniel Pipe's version of "progressive islam" - no progressive worth their salt would endorse Bush - yes there are differences with respect to hijaab - and other areas -

but i don't know any progressive islam person who would endorse bush... this is Pipes and Schwarz's and Kabbani's doing - and a "leadership" that has obviously lost their bearings.

[Dhulfiqar]

Did anyone read the LA Times review of the UMAA Convention?

Wa Salaam,
Dhulfiqar

[Pyarilarki06]

THE NATION
At U.S. Conference, Shiites Share  Concerns
'Almost 100% of Shias are disillusioned' with Bush's occupation of  Iraq,
says one attendee.

By Teresa Watanabe,  Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — New Jersey  cardiologist Syed M. Rizvi has long been a loyal
Republican, drawn by the  party's socially conservative platform, which reflects
his Islamic faith and  traditional Indian culture. But this year, he suspended
his party membership and  is now rethinking his support of President Bush for
one reason —  Iraq.

Although Rizvi applauded the ouster of Saddam Hussein, he fears his  fellow
Shiite Muslims in Iraq are unduly suffering from the postwar chaos,  carnage
and what he sees as too much American say over the country's  policies.

"They are not letting Shias take control," said Rizvi, who  Sunday was among
3,000 Shiites gathered here for their second annual convention.  "I am really
disappointed."

Rizvi's views seemed to reflect a larger  turnabout in a constituency that
once counted itself as staunch supporters of  U.S. policies in Iraq. Most
American Shiites were jubilant over the overthrow of  Hussein, who brutally
persecuted Iraq's Shiite majority, and anticipated that  the ensing Democratic
government would lead to the world's first Arab Shiite  state. But much of that
optimism has evaporated.

"Almost 100% of Shias  are disillusioned. They say we traded one occupation
for another," said Robert  Crane, a Shiite Muslim convert who heads the Center
for Policy Research, an  Islamic think tank in Washington. Crane is a lifelong
Republican who contributed  to Bush's campaign and voted for him in the last
presidential election but now  is reconsidering his support.

Iraq topped the list of foreign policy  concerns at the weekend convention of
the Universal Muslim Assn. of America, a  group formed last year to organize
the Shiite community here and project a  distinct voice on religious and
public policy issues. Organizers said they hoped  to issue a conference statement
today that would condemn terrorism, call for a  "just peace" in Iraq based on
Iraqi wishes and a urge deeper understanding of  Shiite Muslims by Americans.

But convention-goers also discussed issues  ranging from the lngering impact
of the attacks of Sept. 11 to interfaith  relations and social pressures on
young Muslims to date and drink.

"We  are trying to build a new voice for the Muslim world," said media
coordinator  Ali Alahmed.

The conference's theme, "Unity in Diversity," illustrated  some of the
challenges facing the fledgling organization as it tries to pull  together Shiites,
who compose an estimated 10% to 20% of the nation's Muslims.  In defining
their association as American, conference organizers did not, for  instance,
require women to wear a hijab, a head scarf, or sit separately from  men. They even
held a youth mixer, encouraging members of the opposite sex to  exchange
information.

But that did not sit well with traditionalists from  Mideast and South Asian
countries, according to Parvez Shah, conference  chairman. He also said
organizers, who are mostly of Pakistani and Indian  origin, have so far failed to
coax other sizeable Shiite communities to  participate, notably Iranians and
Arabs.

Unity wth other faith  communities and other Muslims — especially the Sunni
majority in the U.S. — was  also urged by several conference speakers,
including Nobel Peace Prize laureate  Shirin Ebadi.

Relations with American Sunnis have at times been tense,  with Shiites
complaining that they are not embraced by many Sunni-led  organizations and at times
even accused of being infidels for following a  different line of Muslim
leaders after the prophet Muhammad. Such frustrations  in part led Shiites to form
their own organization last year after two decades  of discussion about it,
according to Rizvi.

But Ebadi, an Iranian jurist  and activist, emphatically urged unity,
exhorting the Shiite audience to "not  reinforce differences with our Sunni
co-religionists, particularly during these  times of crisis, as others try to defame
our faith."

Azizah al-Hibri, a  University of Richmond law professor and activist with a
Muslim women lawyers'  association, echoed that theme, calling for a national
broad-based Muslim leadership that would include women, Shiites and other
minorities. She said the  absence of such leadership had resulted in the Muslim
community's  marginalization.

"We have been voiceless in this country … not because we  have been pushed
aside but because we did not fight for our rights at the  table," she said. "So
long as we are divided we are not going to be able to look  at the situation
we're in."

For some, the conference was largely a social  event offering a rare
opportunity to meet Shiite Muslims from around the  country. Norane Mir, 23, a UC
Santa Barbara student, came to network with other  young Muslims and pass her
resume around in hopes of finding a research job in  her field of neuropsychology.
Irma Khoja, a Columbia  University student, said she came in part to spread
the word about an upcoming  retreat to develop Shiite youth leadership.

At least some  families came to look for potential spouses for their
children. The conference  offered a one-day "matrimonial service" staffed by several
women who collected  data on marriage seekers. More of the social action,
however, seemed to take  place in the Marriott Hotel lobby, where young Muslims
hung out and quietly eyed  each other.

Still, the issue of Iraq never seemed far from the surface.  Maina Agha, a
New Jersey travel agent, called Bush a "blessing" for giving  Shiites a voice in
Iraq for the first time in centuries; she blamed the postwar  chaos not on
Americans but on outside Islamic extremists. In panel discussions,  interviews
and casual lobby conversations, however, several convention-goers  questioned
the motives of the Bush administration for invading Iraq and fretted  over what
they see as anti-Muslim bias among top U.S. government  officials.

Crane, a fluent Arabic speaker and former ambassador to the  United Arab
Emirates, said the U.S. must begin to emphasize justice, a key  Ilamic value, in
its policies in Iraq and elsewhere. He also predicted further  problems unless
American policymakers allowed Iraqis to base their constitution  on Islamic
law.

"Unless you do that, we'll continue to be opposed by the  majority of
Iraqis," he said.
_http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-muslim31may31,1,160128.s
tory_
(http://www.latimes.c...,1,160128.story)

[Dhulfiqar]

Thats a fair assessment of the Shi'a Majority. Unlike other articles that we've all read.

Wa Salaam,
Dhulfiqar

[DaSouljah]

Quote

3,000 Shiites gathered here for their second annual convention.

Exaggeration!  

[Dhulfiqar]

We know the mistakes of ISNA, ICNA (I'm referring to the social mistakes). We as Shi'a should learn from those mistakes and not make them. The article sadly points out (to the public at large) the mingling in the hotel lobby.

What solutions do you guys pose for this problem?

Wa Salaam,
Dhulfiqar

[DaSouljah]

To my understanding, the national ICNA convention is much better (not a "meat market") as compared to ISNA. One reason for this is that in ICNA there is some segregation that they imposed (during the lectures) and they encourage people not to mingle. And ISNA does not. The more Islamic the environment the less social problems we'll have but the bottom line is it will be virtually impossible and unrealistic to stop all types of mingling.

Wa Salaam,
Abbas

[DaSouljah]

Quote

Press Releases   Choose One ... Press Kit Privacy Policy Legal Information 

Posted on June 03, 2004 @ 12:00 Noon

A Press Release by Dr. Parvez Shah, Chairman, UMAA Convention

Whereas I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all our guests and attendees and the members of the community for their participation in the 2nd UMAA Convention and congratulate them for another successful convention, I wish to release the following statement, to make the position of UMAA explicitly and unambiguously clear on certain issues that have been raised in the press and on the Internet before and after the convention.

Please let it be solemnly known, without any reservation or doubt that,

UMAA disassociates itself from any statements made by an individual/individuals to any reporter or journalist. UMAA, in particular, and unequivocally rejects the alleged inference in Steven Schwartz’s article in the Standard weekly stating a majority who will attend are firm supporters of the Coalition’s operations in Iraq. The said article does not in any manner or style represent the views of UMAA, its Board or the participants at the convention. UMAA’s formal stance on issues, if any, will be issued through its official Press Releaseses issued by the organization.
UMAA is a tax-exempt non-profit organization under Article 503© (iii) of the IRS and cannot endorse or support any political party or candidate. It may and will however express its position on human rights and civil liberties in matters relating to the Muslims, particularly the Shi’i Community to the highest office of the nation or any other efficial of the administration, if and when it finds it necessary.
UMAA encourages diversity and open dialogue. It is an inclusive organization, with associates and members with many shades of opinions. The opinion of any of its associates is strictly and exclusively his or her opinion and cannot and must not be construed or interpreted as opinion of UMAA and its Consultative Body or the Advisory Board.
All Speakers, presenters, moderators at UMAA conventions, including keynote speakers at its sessions, workshops and the Banquet may express their own opinion and do not in any manner reflect tJI4AA’s policy or its position on issues. This is clearly stated in the “Disclaimer”, posted in the Convention Program.
Certain materials and articles, including a statement on the vision and objectives of UMAA in a magazine called, UMAA distributed at the Second UMAA Convention, were not authorized or cleared by the organization. They do not reflect the official position, nor the opinion of the organization and its associates. The Mission and objectives of UMAA remain as they are currently posted on UMAA’s website.
While it strives for cooperation with other Muslim organizations, UMAA will not compromise its identity or standing as Shi’i Organization under any circumstances.
UMAA revers all, the MARAJE and strives to have contacts with all of them.
UMAA conventions provide a forum for diversity of opinions on issues. It does not, however, claim to represent the Shi’i Community in North America nor does it issue any communiqués at its conventions, which may be construed to represent the views of the participants.
UMAA derives its finances from its membership and community sponsorships. It has never received in the past, and it will not accept money from any government or other funding agency.

[Siddiqah]

That letter that was passed around through email is very misleading. They try to paint this horrible picture of UMAA. I'm no fan of UMAA myself, but I attended simply because there aren't any other Shia conventions in US and I like networking. I use them for what I want.

Fee amanillah

[Dhulfiqar]

Was Dr. Shah's letter published in any of the News Outlets? Like NY Times, NY POST, Wash Times or LA times???

Wa Salaam,
Dhulfiqar

[GHULAAM E ABBAS]

not in my knowladge

[naqvi_haider]

Does anyone know who was invited from the govt.

Who was the keynote speaker in the banquet ?

Regards,
Haider