The
Challenges Confronting Dr. Aafia Siddiqui - From Her Own
Community
3 December 2009El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
I had a very disturbing, yet importantly revealing,
experience last weekend in New York and Connecticut
when I attempted to address two large audiences on our
sister Aafia's case (the details of which should prick
the conscience of us all).
On Friday, November 20th, I visited The Muslim Center
of New York (a large predominantly Pakistani populated
Islamic Center in Flushing, NY) with the expectation
that I would be able to have a few words with the
community concerning Aafia's case following the jumah
salat. This, however, was not to be.
After some back and forth discussion with the
president, I learned that "the board" had made a
decision that there would be no discussion of any type
(verbal announcements, lectures, etc.) on the case of
Aafia Siddiqui at The Muslim Center.
I immediately took note of the fact that the time for
jumah (at most centers in the area) was already upon
us; and thus, I needed to identify another center
close by that would enable me to accomplish my
objective. It was then that I thought about Dar'ul
Qur'an – another large (and beautiful) center that I
had been introduced to a few weeks earlier. I called
the president, but to my dismay, this too resulted in
a negative response.
The Muslim Center of New York and Dar ul-Qur'an are
two of the four Islamic centers Imam Siraj Wahhaj
strongly recommended I visit during the month of
Ramadan. He felt I would enjoy vigorous support for
Aafia's case from these centers.
What was so surprising about Dar ul-Qur'an is that I
had just been there a few weeks earlier for an
impromptu presentation to a few brothers, and the
short presentation went exceptionally well. I received
a warm and appreciative embrace by all of the brothers
present, and ended up lingering in conversation with
the imam and the president long after the others had
gone. It was even recommended that I return in the
near future to serve as guest khatib for jumah on the
matter (this would have enabled me to reach the entire
community).
What happened between that initial visit at Da
rul-Qur'an and November 20th? The attack at Fort Hood
(Texas), and the fear-based, counterproductive
reactions this attack has produced within the Muslim
community (especially among leaders) throughout the
U.S.
Again looking at the time and realizing my options
were rapidly dwindling, I decided I would remain at
The Muslim Center and set up a table on the outside. I
set up my table directly across the street from the
center, and was fortunate to have a small portable
loudspeaker in the trunk of my car (which served me
well).
Immediately following the jumah I raced across the
street and began speaking to the Muslim congregants
departing the center. Without attacking the board's
decision, I explained that the importance of the issue
and the circumstance I was confronted with left me no
choice but to address my Muslim brethren in the manner
that I was. I touched upon some of the fitnah that
Aafia had already endured, and what lay ahead; and
alhamdullilah, brothers, and a few sisters, began
flocking across the street to get audio CDs (on
Aafia's case), and to give thanks and encouragement
for what we were doing.
After everything was over, I went back into the center
to perform two rakas of salatul asr (as a traveler),
and I noticed that the musalah was abuzz with young
(elementary and middle school age) brothers rocking
back and forth reciting the Qur'an. As I left, I
wondered to myself what kind of example are we, as
"leaders," presenting to our young?
I thought about the words of Fahad Hashmi's father
(one of the Muslims to cross the street and greet me
after the jumah). He informed me that his son grew up
in this community, but he too received very little
support from its leadership. Being the man that he is,
he said this without a trace of malice, but with a
clearly discernable feeling of deep sadness and hurt.
The next evening (Saturday, Nov. 21st) I was in the
state of Connecticut for a CAIR-CT fundraising
program, and received another shocking indication of
the challenges facing Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in the days
ahead.
WARNING: If you are the type of Muslim who has strong
sensitivity to any criticism directed at prominent
Muslim leaders and/or "Major Muslim Organizations" (or
their affiliates), then you should STOP reading now!
A number of my formative years were spent in southern
Connecticut (before I moved to the Washington area). I
know many people throughout that area, both Muslim and
non-Muslim, I still have family there as well. Given
this reality, coupled with Connecticut' s proximity to
New York City, I decided that it might be advantageous
for me to attend the CAIR-CT program at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel in Cromwell (about a half-hour drive from
New Haven).
Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding that occurred
between myself and the executive director of that
chapter (who shall remain nameless), during this past
Ramadan, I decided that it would be prudent to access
a third party within the CAIR organization for this
mission. I contacted the new National Board Chairman,
NC State Senator Larry Shaw.
After a few telephone communications between myself,
Sen. Shaw and his district office (much appreciation
to the administrator who minds the fort at his
district office), Br Shaw arranged for me to have "3
to 5 minutes" to speak to the audience on Aafia's
behalf. In an effort to show my appreciation, and to
pose as little disruption to CAIR-CT's agenda as
possible, I offered (in an e-mail to the principles)
to speak to the audience at the end of the program.
Little did I know that this offer would result in the
type of insult and overall counterproductive response
that it did.
At this point, I want to express a very, very special
thanks to Azhar Usman (the critically-acclaime d
comedian and founder of the Allah Made Me Funny Tour),
because if it had not been for this brother I am
convinced NO ANNOUNCEMENT concerning Aafia would have
been made at all! Not only did I appreciate the
creative way he was able to weave highly insightful
and politically relevant social commentary into his
presentation, I appreciated even more the sensitivity
he showed for the plight of a sister he knew nothing
about (prior to that night).
The organizers had placed me at the very end of the
program, AFTER Azhar Usman's performance.
(Entertainment almost always comes at the very end of
a program of this nature.) When Azhar's assistant - a
young brother I knew from years back when he was a
student at Howard University – learned of where they
had placed me on the program, he communicated his
concern to me and Azhar, and then made an attempt to
have me deliver my statement before Azhar performed;
but the organizers would not budge.
As the program was clearly winding down, I personally
approached the executive director of CAIR-CT with the
following request: Given the fact that you all have me
scheduled to speak after Azhar's performance, it would
be good if you or some other officer could alert the
audience that a brief, but important, announcement
will be made after Azhar's performance. He nodded in
agreement, but then minutes later willfully ignored
the request. (In fact he himself said to the audience,
just before his intro of Azhar, now that all the
"serious business" is out of the way…here is the
entertainment to cap off the evening.)
I was standing right next to him before he went up to
make that final statement. What he did, and how he did
it, was deliberate and shameful. It is the type of
thing that helps to give CAIR a bad name among people
who should be its most ardent supporters.
One would think that in a program that featured such
highlighted accomplishments as "religious liberties
behind bars" (as it pertained to "halal meat" for
inmates); hijab related "employment harassment;" and
"school bullying" (Muslim students being teased as
"towel heads" and the like), that this chapter would
welcome an opportunity to publicly embrace something
as weighty as a Muslim sister being detained and
abused by a government for over six years.
Not so, unfortunately. It was Azhar Usman who
immediately after the conclusion of his performance
(as people were leaving their seats and heading for
the door) implored the audience to remain behind for a
few more minutes to "hear an announcement about an
important civil rights case involving one of our
sisters."
CAIR's penchant for embracing politically safe issues
has caused it to be largely irrelevant on many of the
major challenges confronting Muslims in America today.
While the shameful spectacle that unfolded at that
hotel on Nov 21 resulted from the decisions made by
the officers of that chapter, it does reflect upon
deficiencies that are well known throughout the
organization. (And I say this without malice; only
with a sincere desire to see CAIR do better.)
The Major Muslim Organizations (as they are
euphemistically known) – CAIR, ISNA, ICNA, MAS, MANA,
MPAC, MSA-National, etc. – should be in the forefront
of the campaign to generate support for this long
suffering sister. Prominent leaders in America, as
well as masajid and centers in the New York Tri-State
area (esp. large, well established centers) should be
actively involved as well. Muslim journalists and news
media should be beating the drums of awareness for the
upcoming trial.
Imam Siraj Wahhaj (the Amir of MANA) has already
pledged and demonstrated his support for Sr. Aafia.
(We are still waiting on other leaders within MANA to
do the same.) Muslim organizations, large and small,
while vigorously condemnatory of any Muslim
transgression that makes the national headlines, have
been as quiet as church mice when it comes to American
government transgressions against fellow Muslims.
This has to end! This case involving Dr. Aafia
Siddiqui is one of the most abusive and
precedent-setting cases confronting Muslims Post 9/11.
It involves the political imprisonment and TORTURE of
a young Muslim woman – a mother, a daughter, a sister
in blood, and a sister in Islam.
With what I experienced in New York and Connecticut
last weekend, I don't feel a whole lot of optimism for
what lay ahead; and I've been around long enough to
know the following. If Aafia Siddiqui goes to trial
and is convicted – and the Muslim community (generally
speaking) is viewed as having stood in fearful
paralysis on the sidelines while the oppressive drama
played out – the precedent that began over six years
ago, with her disappearance and subsequent detention,
will have been completed, and we (as a community)
would be complicit.
It's long past due for the Muslim community to stand
up and push back. If not now, when…and at what cost?
As Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (r) is reported to have
said: "Three classes of men are cut off from the
blessings of Paradise: Oppressors; those who aid and
abet oppression; and those who tolerate oppression."
May ALLAH (SWT) fortify and preserve us.
El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan, ssaala@aol.com
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EsinIslam.Com
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