\n') document.write('.dropcontent{display:none;}\n') document.write('\n') } function contractall(){ if (document.getElementById){ var inc=0 while (document.getElementById("dropmsg"+inc)){ document.getElementById("dropmsg"+inc).style.display="none" inc++ } } } function expandone(){ if (document.getElementById){ var selectedItem=document.dropmsgform.dropmsgoption.selectedIndex contractall() document.getElementById("dropmsg"+selectedItem).style.display="block" } } if (window.addEventListener) window.addEventListener("load", expandone, false) else if (window.attachEvent) window.attachEvent("onload", expandone)
} var mybookinstanceheader=new ajaxpageclass.createBook(bookonflowersheader, "bookcontentheader", ["paginate-bottomheader"])

 
 

Home | Explore | Broadcasters | Media | Donations | About Us | Contact | Fatwa | Our Sheikh

 
 

 

Save

Feedback - From the Aafia Siddiqui-related Controversy Involving ISNA: My Own Thoughts On What’s Been Said

16 July 2010

By El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan

As-Salaam Alaikum
 
Thank you for your courage and stamina.  Why am I not surprised by their callous reaction.  Allahuakbar.

I begin with a deeply felt note of thanks for the prayers and best wishes that have come from so many in the wake of this controversy. In addition to the e-mails (and text) that you’ve just read, I also received a number of calls from friends and family who wanted to insure that I was alright.  

What you’ve just read are ALL of the printed messages I’ve received in response to this incident to date. They are representative of a broad cross-section of opinion – i.e. Muslims (predominantly) as well as non-Muslims; men and women; leaders, activists, and everyday concerned folk. At this time I would like to respond to a number of the questions and issues raised. 

  1. An imam raised the issue of my alleged penchant for “gate crashing” events; and while I don’t mind criticism at all (and I mean this with all sincerity), I found this observation rather offensive, because it simply isn’t true. Rarely do I just show up at events without making a genuine effort in advance to have a request accommodated. On those rare occasions when I do just “show up” – because I either just learned of an event, or didn’t expect to attend until the last minute – I will make a request of the organizers; and if they say no, I will respect their wishes (even if I disagree that decision).
  2. Are ISNA officials aware of my advocacy for Dr. Aafia Sidiqui? Absolutely! Did I seek their permission to do what I did at the convention? No. Why not? Because I did not want to put them in a position of having to say no to me, again. I also felt, as a matter of principle, that I should not have needed permission to simply HOLD UP A SIGN - in a convention comprising thousands of Muslims - urging support for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, while simultaneously handing out a one page summary of her case!
  3. The argument that - (a) if others were allowed to do what I did things could become chaotic, and (b) ISNA has a responsibility to screen and approve of items and issues that receive exposure at one of their conventions - are valid arguments. That said, if a major issue of community-wide import has come to the attention of ISNA (as the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has), ISNA – and every other Muslim organization claiming to represent Muslims in America - has an obligation to facilitate support for that issue in whatever way it can! I have personally brought the case of Aafia Siddiqui (and other Muslim political prisoners in America) to the attention of a number of ISNA officials many times, along with requests for support!
  4. Why did I not opt for a booth in the bazaar? Because the booths at ISNA Conventions are very costly and very restrictive (in terms of total exposure for an issue like this). This is an issue that deserves to be on the MAIN STAGE OF ANY MUSLIM ASSEMBLY! The fact that it isn’t brings shame upon Muslims in America – and especially upon our “leaders” and organizations.
  5. I spoke to Imam Zaid Shakir about a half hour before I was confronted by one of the brothers inside the door of the MSA session (as I stood holding up the sign). Imam Zaid, as expected, was very receptive to the request I made of him. Ironically, I was in the bazaar (with the sign) when I was confronted by the police and forced to leave.

 

With that said, I should point out, in closing, that the purpose of me sending out this list of responses is not simply to cause ISNA more embarrassment. It’s in the hope of shaking them up a little. These are ALL of the e-mail responses I’ve seen on this issue. A few are critical of me; the vast majority are critical of ISNA. 

But let me be clear about something…this is not just about the ISNA organization.

NOT ONE MAJOR MUSLIM ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA HAS PUBLICLY RAISED ITS VOICE IN DEFENSE OF AAFIA SIDDIQUI (OR IN PROTEST FOR THE WAY SHE’S BEEN TREATED), NOR EVEN ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE SUPPORT FOR HER, IN THE TWO YEARS THAT THIS OPPRESSED SISTER HAS BEEN IN AMERICA! NOT ONE! SHAME ON US!!! 

(And for the record, this is not the first time a fellow Muslim threatened to have me arrested for advocating for Aafia! It also happened at an Islamic center in central New Jersey, not too long ago.)  

I raised an admittedly provocative question a few weeks back concerning the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The question was: 

ARE AMERICAN MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS IN COLLUSION WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN THE CASE OF DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI? 

The answer to that question is an emphatic YES! Because silence in the face of oppression (when you have the capacity to do something more than merely detest the oppression in your heart) is taken as consent! And depending on the circumstance, it can also translate into aiding and abetting the crime of oppression.  

I close with wise nasiha of the 4th Rightly Guided Caliph of Islam, Ali ibn abu-Talib (may ALLAH be pleased with him), who said: 

“Four classes of men [and women] are cut off from the blessings of Paradise: oppressors; those who aid and abet oppression; and those who tolerate oppression.” 

May ALLAH guide, fortify, and have mercy on us. Ameen. 

The struggle continues, 

 

 

 

©  EsinIslam.Com

Add Comments


Comments 💬 التعليقات