— Muslim Alliance of Indiana

It has been a very eventful year thus far for the Muslims in the US, including Indiana. While the Muslim community keeps growing organically on Hoosier soil, events overseas continued to drive the image of Muslim and Islam in Indiana’s influential media outlets.

The year 2015 had hardly begun when the attacks on Charlie Hebdo followed other terrorism events in Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Middle East. MAI and 14 other organizations around Indianapolis organized a public rally against terrorism and in support of sanctity of life, freedom of expression, universal education, and religious liberty. Despite the cold January weather at the outdoor IUPUI ‘Democracy Plaza’, about 200 people attended the rally and heard 16 speakers from diverse faith and ethnic backgrounds speak forcefully on their belief that Islam stood for peace and justice, and that American Muslims should not be collectively blamed for the actions of a few individuals and overseas groups. Sadly, less than a month later, three remarkable young Muslims were gunned down in North Carolina in a plausibly bias-motivated attack. MAI helped organize vigils around Indiana to remember the innocent victims of Islamophobia.

The observance of MLK day in January provided an opportunity for Muslim organizations to put in a day of service and connect with neighbors. MSA groups at IUPUI and other colleges around the state worked with their friends of all faiths, while MAI worked with Masjid Mumineen in central Indianapolis to recruit volunteers from other mosques and serve its neighborhood.

A major event for MAI was the 2nd annual Muslim Day at the Indiana Statehouse on April 9. House-full attendance was around 45, including about high-school and college students, teachers, and others. They were addressed by state leaders, and the highlight was an engaging panel on the recent Indiana RFRA law. This was an important step forward for MAI, making clear that Muslims want to seriously and consistently engage the government. An important follow-on event was a meeting with Representative Greg Porter to support his legislation on bias-crime penalties. MAI has teamed with ISNA and local Jewish and other faith and ethnic communities to push for Indiana to join over 40 other states that have hate-crimes laws.

I want also to recall that at the MAI annual convention and awards banquet in late 2014, we recognized 4 individuals and 4 organizations that have contributed greatly to Muslim life, culture, and charities in Indiana. That day, CIMO also ran a workshop on reintegration of former prison inmates into society, and we remembered the loss of fellow Hoosier Muslim, Abdelrahman Peter Kassig.

These events have kept our lean staff very busy. Coming up, MAI will conduct a series of workshops this summer at eight cities statewide on cultural sensitivity training. Professionals in social work, law enforcement, and other fields will learn how to better service victims of domestic violence and other crimes, immigrants, and people of all faiths.

This newsletter and the linked blogs on MAI’s website provides details on all of these activities and more. I urge you to explore the links and connect with the Muslim Alliance of Indiana in upcoming months and to come to your MAI events.

On Oct. 8, 2014 the Muslim Alliance of Indiana joined the Butler University Muslim Student Association in calling Hoosiers to gather and pray for Peter “Abdul-Rahman” Kassig, and raise awareness of the plight of Syrian refugees fleeing the devastation of civil war, in a rally against war, hatred, and terrorism across the globe.

Hundreds of supporters, clad in white as a symbol of peace, gathered on that evening at Butler University to pray for the safe return of a former student, Abdul-Rahman Kassig. Kassig, a foreign aid worker and Indianapolis native, was captured by the Islamic State, or ISIS, in October 2013.

At the hour-long vigil, hosted by the Butler University MSA, local Muslim leaders implored ISIS to follow the teachings of the religion they claim to follow and show mercy to a man who has devoted his life to helping others.

Organizers also spoke at length about the suffering of people in Syria, a cause that brought Kassig to the Middle East. Kassig cared deeply for the plight of the Syrian people, his friends and family say. In 2012, he founded SERA, or Special Emergency Response and Assistance, a group focused on providing refugees in Lebanon and Syria with medical assistance, supplies, clothing and food. Abdul-Rahman was originally drawn to Syria to help the 3 million Syrian refugees – half of whom are children – who have been forced to flee into Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and other countries (the equivalent of the entire population of Chicago fleeing to Indiana and Wisconsin).

[For more on the rally, see this coverage from the IndyStar: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/10/08/hundreds-butler-show-support-isis-captive-peter-kassig-family/16939825/]

Abdul-Rahman Kassig was announced dead on Nov. 16, 2014. After the news broke of his death, local mosques and organizations began setting up funeral dates and prayers.

On Nov. 21, the Al-Huda Mosque in Fishers planned a funeral Service for Peter Kassig. Dr. Shaker Rashid, spokesman of the Al Huda Foundation, said, “We are honored to host this service, in memorial of the life of Abdul­-Rahman Kassig, and to pray for him and his family at our mosque. Abdul­-Rahman is a Hoosier hero who gave his life to serve others, and he is an example and an inspiration for every Muslim.”

Prayer services were also held on Nov. 22, at IUPUI by the Muslim Alliance of Indiana and on Nov. 23 at Butler University. Maya Alshawa, president of Butler’s Muslim Student Association, said the world “lost a hero” when Kassig was killed.

“Abdul-Rahman was doing remarkable work for the people of Syria,” she said. “He exemplified courageousness, selflessness, and humanity. We as Butler students can look to him as an example of someone who was fulfilling his dream of helping others. We can learn from him, and live like him: with purpose. Abdul-Rahman was changing lives, and saving them. What happened to him is both evil and unfair. It is an honor to be able to say that Abdul-Rahman was a fellow Butler student, and we can remember him for his great work and his legacy of bravery.”

Abdul-Rahman Kassig left a huge impact on the lives of many. His life and work were a tribute to the bravery and compassion instilled in him by his family and community. In caring for the oppressed, the displaced, and the orphaned, Kassig exemplified the Prophetic tradition of empathy and action in the face of injustice. His murder at the hands of the Islamic State is further proof of ISIS’ complete disregard for human life, regardless of religion, creed, or innocence. In his memory, we ask the American people to support those working to help the children displaced by the Syrian civil war, through organizations like SERA (http://seramedic.org/index.html), Islamic Relief (http://irusa.org/syria/) , UNICEF http://www.unicef.org.uk/landing-pages/donate-syria/), and Doctors Without Borders (http://www.msf.org.uk/node/28331#What is MSF doing to help?).

Our thoughts and prayers are with Abdul-Rahman Kassig and his family and friends. May he rest in peace, and may Allah reward his sacrifice.

MAI would like to thank all the speakers and organizations that participated in these events. We appreciate all your hard work and dedication.

Hazem Bata
Omar Atia
Nadir Mitiche
Shekih Tewfiq
Maya Alshawa
Waseema Ali
Fatih Sefregic
Hadeel Said
Alhuda Foundation
Bulter Muslim Student Association
IUPUI Muslim Student Association
Charlie Wiles

Over the past year a horrific spate of terrorist murders in Nigeria, France and elsewhere in the name of Islam contradicts its teachings on universal education and freedom. The first revelation of the Quran directs Muslims to ‘read’, as ‘your Lord .. taught with the pen.’ The Prophet Muhammad said that “seeking knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim, male and female”, and, by some reports, said “seek knowledge, even as far as China”, referring to secular knowledge. He arranged for non-Muslim prisoners to earn their freedom by teaching Muslim children to read and write. For centuries, Muslims have sought the sciences of all other civilizations and built upon them. Boko Haram and the Taliban have cast themselves out of this endeavor, but will never thwart it.