— Muslim Alliance of Indiana

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CIMO
Indiana state capitol building
Registere here or at mdsh2015.eventbrite.com
MUSLIM DAY @the STATE HOUSE 2015

Thursday, April 9, 2015
from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EDT)

As-salamu alaykum.

The Indiana House is expected to vote soon on Senate Bill 101, Indiana’s proposed ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act’, which the Indiana Senate has already passed 40-10. By a similar margin, the Senate also passed SB 127, which will allow any group receiving state or local contracts to discriminate against individuals who do not espouse its religious tenets. Momentum continues in this session of the Indiana General Assembly to pass “religious freedom” legislation.

·      Will these bills lead to the firing or non-hiring of Muslims and other minorities by private hospitals, colleges and universities, schools, and other religiously-affiliated groups?

·      Will they limit the religious freedom of the employees or enhance the religious freedom of employers? Could they pose any threat to thousands of Muslim Hoosiers?

On the other hand, there is much less attention to the need for Indiana to enact a hate crimes statute, which has also been proposed again in this session as House Bill 1330.

·      What is the likelihood that HB 1330 will be enacted? How will it help reduce the climate of bias against minorities and make hateful criminals think twice?

·      Will it protect Muslim Hoosiers against hate crimes based on Islamophobia by ensuring they are swiftly prosecuted?

On behalf of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) and the Council of Indiana Muslim Organizations (CIMO), we are pleased to invite you and leaders in your local community to the second annual Muslim Day @the Indiana State House (MDSH) on Thursday, 9th April  2015 from 10.00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The event will take place at the Indiana Government Center – South Complex in Indianapolis.  Lunch will be included in the registration charge of $10.

Come to the Muslim Day @the Indiana State House to learn about the possible consequences of these pieces of legislation.

MDSH 2015 also provides an opportunity to:

•       COMMUNICATE the important contributions Muslim Hoosiers make to Indiana’s civic, economic and social fabric

•       ENGAGE with elected officials, key political leaders, and other important civic figures

•       LEARN about the legislative and administrative government processes, including current legislation and policies

•       EMPOWER Muslims to help improve the communities in which we live, work, study, and play, by participating in a myriad of activities

•       ENHANCE the Muslim community’s political engagement, community service, philanthropic endeavors, and social justice

•       ADVOCATE on behalf of Muslim Hoosiers and their interests

•       AMPLIFY Muslim efforts in political engagement, community service, and social justice.

•       SHARE knowledge and information with policymakers

Several Indiana elected officials and legislators, as well as some well-established political leaders, will be meeting with us.

Your participation in MDSH 2015 is important. We pray that your community will be fully represented at this important event. Please register TODAY at mdsh2015.eventbrite.com.

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“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali

Over the years a number of mosques and Islamic organizations in Indiana have organize activities on and around Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service.

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) and Council of Indiana Muslim Organizations (CIMO) encourages Muslim Hoosiers to engage in community service to not only commemorate the day, but to help grow in civic engagement throughout the year.

Examples of activities are
· visiting a senior home or nursing home
· assisting neighbors with needs, such as household chores of seniors, and homework assistance of schoolchildren
· stocking up a food pantry
· winter clothing drive
· helping out at a soup kitchen
· helping at a public library

The following websites include ‘tool-kits’ to organize service activities. Some of them may require more advance planning than others, and CIMO members are encouraged to consider the ideas here, for this year and future years:
http://riseforamerica.org/campaigns/#martin-luther-king
http://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/days-service/martin-luther-king-jr-day-service/plan-toolkits
Thanks to Br. Fady Qaddoura for this information.

The Indiana Civil Rights Commission had compiled a list of events and activities in Indiana on its website. This list has NOT been updated for 2015. However, the statewide phone and email contacts that are listed here may be helpful for CIMO members to get connected and participate in activities that are being organized. Please do not assume that the activities and dates given here are valid for 2015.
http://www.in.gov/icrc/2410.htm

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) and CIMO would like to share plans, opportunities, and ideas for service events for the weekend of January 16-19, 2015. Below are some Muslim Hoosier activities for January 2015 MLK Day of Service, known to MAI at this time.

1- Interfaith breakfast in Fishers on Monday 19th at the Delaware Township Community Center, including the newly elected mayor of Fishers and key faith leaders and civic activists from the greater Indianapolis community, aimed to create an interfaith coalition to coordinate public service campaigns in Fishers. For more information, contact Br. Fady Qaddoura (fadyloy@hotmail.com)

2- IUPUI MSA will participate in the IUPUI MLK Day of Service on Monday 19th http://csl.iupui.edu/partnerships/student-service/events/dr-king.shtml
Similarly MSAs at other university campuses may be involved in their respective campus activities. https://www.facebook.com/IUPUIMSA and https://www.facebook.com/events/1581732665394016/

3- Masjid Al-Mumineen and SHARE center of Indy plan to offer assistance, food, hats and gloves to their neighbors, working with the Keystone Millersville Neighborhood Association. They will also visit seniors in nursing homes. They will visit neighbors on Saturday 17th to survey their needs and visit again on Monday 19th to provide service. Please contact Chaplain Ismail Abdul-Aleem (ialeem@idoc.IN.gov) to contribute or participate. http://www.masjidmumineen.com/#!share-center/c1twn

4- Several other masajid are working on plans, which we will share as information becomes available.

This is just a sample of possibilities and planned activities. Please reply to Carey Craig at MAI (carey@indianamuslims.org) and let us know as soon as possible about your plans, which we will share for the benefit of others.

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What are Muslims all about? We know the current narrative. It’s time to rise to the challenge of defining the American Muslim identity through voice and action – starting at home.

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana continues to stand with and empower civically engaged Muslims. Let’s re-write the narrative, one Muslim Hoosier at a time.

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