Newsletter (Apr 2024): IAMC was mentioned in a US government body’s report + more
As salamu alaykum!
April was full of meetings, important reports, and media mentions for us at IAMC. Here’s our bullet point summary:
BULLET POINT SUMMARY:
- IAMC was mentioned in the 2023 human rights report released by the US State Department
- Hosted an Eid gathering on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
- Held meetings with representatives of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Indian victims of religious freedom violations
- Held meetings with leadership of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA)
- Published an op-ed on the dangers of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
- Had mentions in a number of international press outlets
- And hosted multiple events at the chapter level
Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these achievements in detail.
IAMC IN STATE DEPARTMENT 2023 REPORT
IAMC was mentioned in the 2023 human rights report released by the US Department of State, which cited the banning of our X/Twitter account as an act of transnational repression by the Indian government.
“On October 14, accounts of Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council on X (formerly Twitter) were withheld in the country,” the report stated. “The blocking of these two accounts came after Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani and IT Cell Head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Amit Malviya publicly claimed… that Indian American Muslim Council New Jersey leadership was allegedly tied to Pakistan-based political groups.”
MEETINGS WITH CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS, USCIRF, AND FIACONA
Our advocacy team held meetings with staffers from the offices of Texas Representatives Al Green (D-TX), John Carter (R-TX), and Jodey Arrington (R-TX) to discuss the election resolution, a collaborative effort with Hindus for Human Rights that expresses concerns over human rights abuses permeating the Indian elections, including anti-Muslim hate speech, the freezing of the opposition party assets, and other authoritarian moves by the Modi government that affect the freeness of the election.
We also discussed the need to support Senate Resolution 569, also known as the Coons Resolution, which recognizes religious freedom as a fundamental right, expresses support for international religious freedom as a cornerstone of United States foreign policy, and expresses concern over increased threats to and attacks on religious freedom around the world.
We also met with a representative of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to speak about prominent Indian victims of religious freedom violations. USCIRF recognizes such victims on its Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List, or FoRB Victims List.
Lastly, we met with the leadership of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA) to speak about policy requests and ideas in order to strengthen future collaborations.
IAMC MEDIA TEAM
Last month, IAMC Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed broke down why the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is so dangerous in a new op-ed for Fair Planet. Take a look at it here.
We also had multiple press mentions in different media formats, from Urdu news to the website of a European NGO with United Nations Consultative. Check out all of them below:
- VOA URDU’s View 360 on Indian elections
- CAP Liberté de Conscience on IAMC Annual Report on Human Rights and Religious Freedom in India (2024)
- The Wire: India, Globally: News Outlets Focus on Muzzled Media, Rights Orgs on Democracy
- Eurasia Review: US Slams India For Serious Rights Violations – Analysis
You can keep up with all of our press mentions here.
IAMC CAMPUS TEACH-IN
The IAMC media team held a successful campus teach-in on Hindutva at the University of Michigan. The event, which featured speakers Dr. Dheepa Sundaram of the University of Denver and IAMC Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed, was co-sponsored by several student organizations, including the Indian Muslim Students Association of UMich.
Over 50 students attended the teach-in, which focused on identifying Hindutva’s defining myths and talking points, the groups and individuals pushing the Hindutva agenda in the United States, and ways to combat Hindutva propaganda.
IAMC plans on hosting several such teach-ins at universities across the country, so stay tuned to see if a teach-in is coming to a campus near you.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
On Eid and beyond, our chapters were hard at work representing IAMC and our cause to the world. Catch up with their activities below:
Atlanta
- Visited local masajid during the last week of Ramadan in the Greater Atlanta Area to showcase IAMC and provide informative talks as part of the Ramadan Roadshow, including:
- Masjid Al-Momineen in Clarkston
- Masjid Hamzah in Alpharetta
- Masjid Jafar in Johns Creek
- Had an awareness booth at Aligarh Alumni Association of Atlanta’s Eid Picnic, which was attended by over 5k people
- Attended an Ambedkar Birth Anniversary celebration in Sugar Hill, GA
- Participated in a virtual zoom meeting of CAIR coalition partners for the release of FATAL, CAIR’s new civil rights report on rise in post-Oct 7 Islamophobia
- Participated in CAIR’s Georgia Muslims Power Mapping and Strategy Roundtable
- Co-sponsored and attended a voter education town hall, inviting US presidential candidates such as Dr. Jill Stein (Green Party Presidential Candidate) and Karina Garcia (VP Candidate)
Boston
- Had a resounding success with the Ramadan Roadshow, raising awareness in multiple local Islamic Centers, shedding light on the plight of persecuted Muslims in India, and encouraging community members to donate to our cause
- Participated in IAMC’s annual virtual fundraiser and was supported by generous donations from Boston chapter members
- Represented Boston chapter at IAMC’s annual Eid Event at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where IAMC Associate Director Amin Zama gave a speech
Chicago
IAMC’s Chicago chapter hosted an interfaith iftar that drew in nearly 120 attendees from various faith communities.
The event was hosted by Chicago Chapter President Sameer Syed and featured speakers including Dr. Sabeel Ahmed who focused on the Spirit of Ramadan and Pushkar Sharma, the Founder and ED of South Asian Coalition to Renew Democracy (SACRED) who shined light on current situation of minorities in India.
Husnaa Vhora from IAMC National underlined the importance of unity in these trying times both in the U.S. and across the world.
The event concluded with a dua that preached love, unity, and faith in Allah’s plan.
The Chicago chapter is grateful for everyone who attended and the team members and volunteers who made the event a success!
Dallas
- Organized a meeting with Department of Justice representative Harpreet Singh Mokha. Participants included Interfaith Coalition partners and Muslim community leaders.
- Attended Dallas Peace and Justice Center’s (DPJC) annual planning meeting. DPJC agreed to form a committee to combat Hindutva.
- Represented IAMC at USCMO’s annual Muslim Advocacy day at the US Capitol and met with several Congressional staffers
- Currently reaching out to DFW Congressional members and State Representatives to urge them to demand the IRS and TX Attorney General’s office to investigate Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, an American Hindu far right group
Maryland
- Worked on transitioning in new leadership
- Participated in the annual IAMC Eid event on Capitol Hill
- Planned for participation in this year’s ICNA
Michigan
- Participated in an event honoring the 133rd Birth Anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in Novi, MI
- Collaborated with local masjid imam to arrange a khutba addressing Indian Muslim issues
- Secured park shelter reservation for our Independence Day event on August 15th.
- Planned for the 2024 Michigan annual fundraising event
New Jersey
- Concluded the Ramadan Roadshow with an educational talk and IAMC table at the Muslim Center of Middlesex County (MCMC) in Piscataway
- Celebrated Eid at the Indian Consulate in NY
- Co-sponsored the Edison Eid Festival and participated by setting up an IAMC table
- Met with the team behind the documentary “The Return” to discuss combating authoritarianism in India and the diaspora, exploring potential collaboration for the documentary.
Richmond
- Followed up with state senators and delegates who attended the Peace and Justice Campaign breakfast at VA assembly, and caught up those who were not able to attend
- Arranged for follow-up one-on-one meetings with key VA legislators
- Chalked out a follow-up plan and events for the year for advocacy engagement with VA assembly
More
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