Community Matters

Umair Shah Heads Washington State Health Department

Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, took charge as Washington State’s new secretary of health, Dec. 21, 2020, in Gov. Jay Inslee’s second-term cabinet.

He had served as executive director and local health authority for Harris County Public Health (HCPH) in Texas since 2013

“Dr. Shah brings an unrivaled expertise, knowledge and passion for public health,” Gov. Inslee remarked. “His leadership will help us lead Washington state through the next crucial phase of this pandemic. He is uniquely suited to continue our nation-leading response. An immigrant, originally from Pakistan and raised in Ohio, equity is incorporated and considered in every decision as he leads organizations to ensure the health and safety of everyone.”

The Seattle Times (Nov. 22, 2020), which editorially lauded Shah’s coming, quoted University of Houston medical historian Helen Valier, an expert on pandemic responses, that Shah “… can get a crowd going and understands that public health is local health. He’s done a lot for Houston. … We’re not spiraling out of control the way we were. That’s down to good leadership and the front line clinicians.”

While thanking the governor, Shah stressed, “Without question, the number one priority for me is to work with the team to continue the fight against COVID-19 and help Washingtonians through these challenging times.

“This pandemic has highlighted the importance of public health and health care working together, and I am confident [that] my experience in both will serve the state of Washington well now during these difficult times, and into the future.”

During his seven-year tenure as leader of the nationally accredited HCPH, which manages the 700 public health staff serving the 4.7 million residents of the nation’s third largest county, in 2016 the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) recognized HCPH as Local Health Department of the Year. Before this, Shah had been chief medical officer of Galveston County Health District and served as an emergency department physician at Houston’s DeBakey VA Hospital for 20+ years.

Shah acquired extensive leadership experience while responding to such public health crises as novel H1N1, Ebola, Zika, Covid-19 and various hurricanes and other emergencies. During his training, he spent time at the World Health Organization and was deployed to Kashmir and Haiti after both countries experienced devastating earthquakes

As NACCHO’s president (2017), he represented nearly 3,000 local public health departments nationwide and its Texas affiliate. In 2019 the American Public Health Association awarded him its Roemer Prize for Creative Local Public Health Work.

Dr. John Wiesman, the outgoing secretary of health, noted, “I am leaving the Washington State Department of Health in good hands. I have known and worked with Umair for over a decade. He is a thoughtful, knowledgeable and energetic leader. He brings with him deep public health expertise, passion for addressing health inequities, and emergency response experience, all of which will serve the state very well right now during this pandemic and for the years to come.”

Shah has a bachelor’s degree (Vanderbilt University), a medical degree (The University of Toledo Health Science Center) and a master’s (public health, with an emphasis in management and policy sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center). Last year, Elemental included him in its list of the nation’s 50 health and science experts to help people separate truth from misinformation and stay up to date.

Other Muslim health professionals listed included Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, MD, DRPH (author; CNN political commentator; former director, Detroit Health Department); Nahid Bhadelia, MD, MA (medical director, Special Pathogens Unit, Boston Medical Center; associate professor, Boston University School of Medicine); Abraar Karan (department of medicine, Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School) and Syra Madad (senior director, System-wide Special Pathogens Program, NYC Health + Hospitals). ih Azhar Azeez, a former ISNA president, addressed the Islamic Council of Ohio’s (ICO) 33rd Islamic Day in Ohio (IDO), held virtually on Oct. 10, 2020. This year’s theme was “Racial Justice: A Moral Obligation.”

He reminded the audience that we have to remain aware of those who try to divide us and to applaud the nation’s Founding Fathers and Mothers, who showed great wisdom by allowing freedom of religious practices in this great nation of ours to grow.

He pointed out that Muslim Americans come from 57 Muslim-majority countries, 54 of which had either been colonies and/or dictatorships, and the U.S. allowed them to grow and thrive in a democratic and pluralistic environment. As with every minority community, their stories and challenges are unique.

Thus, he stated that we should never minimize our contributions and have the moral obligation to continue to contribute, as well as stand with and for those marginalized people who face brutality and oppression.

Each year ICO partners with a state Islamic center to host the event. This year, the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent (ISAK) and the Akron Masjid collaborated with ICO to host it virtually.

Speakers included Councilman Basheer Jones (Cleveland’s first Muslim council representative), Toqa Hassan (founder of Youth Inspiration Network, Akron Masjid’s youth group), Khalid Madhi (chair, Faith Islamic Academy’s board of education), Sohail Khan (chairperson, ICO), Faheem Shaikh (president, ISAK) and Abdelkareem Melaiye (amir, Akron Masjid).

Lydia Rose (public relations director, ISAK) moderated the event.

Governor Richard Celeste declared an official Islamic Day in Ohio in 1987, prompted by the council’s efforts to familiarize public officials with the religion. ih

The Shawnee Mission Islamic Education Center (SMIEC) inaugurated its Masjid Maryam (Merriam, Kan.), Sept. 18, 2020, thereby meeting its need for a conveniently located center.

Metropolitan Kansas City, which includes 14 counties in both Kansas and Missouri, is one of the region’s fastest growing areas. All but two of its mosques are located on the Missouri side; the other two are located in Kansas. As north-central Johnson County, Kan., had no mosques, its Muslims were renting a hall for jum‘a services; however, they could not offer taraweeh prayers because the mosques were too far away.

Discussions about finding a suitable place had been ongoing since fall 2009. Members started a weekend Islamic academy in 2010 and held classes in rented public buildings. In August 2019, they purchased a vacant church located in Merriam — site of the famous Supreme Court Brown vs. Board of Education Kansas legal case — Johnson County. Major renovation was completed in summer 2020. At the first jum‘a service, Muhammad Tarife called the inaugural adhan and Hamza Alshami, MD, delivered the khutba.

SMIEC plans to organize lectures by reputed scholars and offer workshops and seminars.

Farrukh Jamal, Mohamed Abulbashar and Ahmad Ali supported the project, which was spearheaded by Prof. Syed Eqbal Hasan (president, SMIEC; professor emeritus, University of Missouri-Kansas City).

Besides generous donations from local and nationwide supporters, SMIEC obtained an interest-free loan from the North American Islamic Trust. SMIEC also managed the Dr. & Mrs. M.A. Zikry Memorial Scholarships for college-bound high school graduates for five years.

Farrukh Jamal, an author, college English teacher, Fulbright scholar and board member, offered English classes to Syrian refugees at her home. These classes, along with weekend Islamic academy, will be held in the new center. The Omar Islamic Center (Meriden, Conn.), which sought Department of Justice intervention after the town denied it permission on March 13, 2019, to build a mosque, secured its right through a consent decree, applying the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, reported the Washington Times, Nov. 6, 2020.

According to documents filed in the U.S. District Court of Connecticut, city officials had said they were worried about the loss of tax revenue if the two-story structure, which had sat vacant for 15 years, was permitted for religious use. The ground floor will serve as the mosque.

DoJ Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband noted, “The United States of America is, and must always be, a nation that protects the religious freedom of all people. For more than four centuries, religious people from all over the world have found refuge here. Our Constitution protects the right of all people in this free nation to exercise their religion. But that right will mean little if people cannot gather together in a place of their choosing and practice their faith. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act marked its 20th anniversary last month, and it ensures that people of all faiths can establish houses of worship. The Justice Department will continue to enforce this important law against any government that violates the right of faith communities

to build gathering places for worship.”

Muslims Making Change

Muslim Advocates (Muslim Advocates — Halting Bigotry in its Tracks) celebrated leaders nationwide who exemplified their commitment to justice during the past year on Oct. 14, 2020, at its Muslims Making Change: National Honors event. The national honorees were: • Racial Justice: The Family of Muhammad Muhaymin Jr. (Arizona), for working to secure justice for Muhammad’s killing and for broader police reforms in Phoenix, and Sanaa Abrar (Washington, D.C.), for her advocacy against racist and xenophobic immigration policies affecting immigrant youth. • Covid-19 Relief: Kamal Eldeirawi (Illinois), for creating the CIOGC Joint Task Force and advising Chicago-area mosques on best practices to close and safely reopen during the pandemic, and Taneeza Islam (South Dakota), for her efforts to protect the largely immigrant and refugee workers of Sioux Falls’ Smithfield meatpacking facility from the country’s largest Covid-19 outbreak. • Civil Society: Daisy Maldonado (New Mexico), for organizing residents of the state’s colonias to build power and leadership in some of the country’s most marginalized communities, and Umer Rupani (Georgia), for registering and mobilizing Muslim and non-Muslim voters statewide in advance of a historic election year. • Ally Award: Jessica J. Gonzalez (Washington, D.C.), for valiantly speaking up against online hate and its effects on Muslims. ih

Dr. Nadeem Ahmed Memon, scholar and leader in Islamic school education and research, joined the Islamic Schools League of America (ISLA) board October last year.

A senior research fellow in the Centre for Islamic Thought and Education (the School of Education, the University of South Australia), he is a leading expert on the history of North America’s Islamic schools and developing the “Principles of Islamic Pedagogy.” His latest book, “A History of Islamic Schooling in North America” (Routledge, 2019), reflects a strong sense of our challenges and achievements.

His research focuses on teacher education, especially Islamic pedagogy, comparative faith-based schooling, the philosophy of religious education and culturally relevant and responsive teaching. He is the co-editor of “Philosophies of Islamic Education: Historical Perspectives and Emerging Discourses” (Routledge, 2016) and ”Discipline, Devotion, and Dissent: Jewish, Catholic, and Islamic Schooling in Canada” (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2013).

Dr. Seema Imam (chairperson, ISLA) said, “I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Nadeem Memon for over a decade now, and I look forward with excitement to his work with the ISLA. He brings a unique combination of international experience and critical Islamic pedagogy.

“We look forward to Dr. Nadeem’s contributions to ISLA in forging research with practice in a manner that advances Islamic education and assists Islamic school teachers and leaders to become grounded in the principles of Islamic pedagogy — an essential component to the success of Islamic schools as a whole.”

Stafford (Va.) County’s Board of Supervisors effectively voted on Oct. 29, 2020, to repeal ordinances that prevented new construction at the All Muslim Association of America, Inc. (AMAA) cemetery.

The vote came after Muslim Advocates, Milbank LLP and HMA Law Firm filed a religious freedom law suit against the county and its board on June 8, 2020, for blocking the cemetery. The U.S. Department of Justice also sued the county on June 19, 2020.

AMAA’s current cemetery in the county

N.J. Mosque Wins Approval

The Garden State Islamic Center and the City of Vineland, Cumberland County, reached a $550,000 settlement in August 2020. This ended the discrimination case launched in 2017, which accused the city of preventing the mosque’s planned expansion to accommodate facilities that will include lecture rooms, a library, and offices.

The city also agreed to issue the certificate of occupancy needed to open the mosque’s second floor so that the South Jersey mosque, which has about 220 members, can finally provide full congregational and educational programs as well as childcare services.

The settlement ended more than a decade of litigation, sparked by the city’s refusal of the center’s 2009 request to build the mosque. In addition to raising constitutional objections, the center argued that the city’s actions violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, which protects houses of worship from zoning discrimination.

The center filed suit in U.S. District Court in Camden three years ago, after the city refused to issue the certificate of occupancy, alleging that the city “unreasonably and unilaterally rescinded the pre-construction permits” and “engaged in a pattern and practice of discriminatory conduct.” The city planning board had approved their site plan for a three-level house of worship in 2011 after settling an earlier complaint filed in state court.

Among the discriminatory acts were slapping a $50,000 property tax bill on the mosque in 2015, despite the obvious fact that any mosque is a tax-exempt religious organization, and wrongly determining that the mosque’s sewage flow, a threshold that requires state approval for new septic and waste management systems. The calculation method used, which grossly overestimated how many people visit the building each day, has not been imposed upon other religious and secular institutions, the center stated. ih

is expected to reach capacity during 2021. Anticipating this, in 2015 it purchased additional property. In response, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors initiated a rushed and unusual process to pass a new (and discriminatory) ordinance.

The vote effectively repealed this ordinance, as well as a second one adopted in August 2020. Now that this significant hurdle has been removed, AMAA plans to continue legal proceedings to ensure the cemetery’s actual approval and that it is fully compensated for the unnecessary costs generated by the county and board’s actions.

“Discrimination against Muslims follows them even to their graves, but this repeal is a step toward ensuring that Muslims in Stafford County will be able to mourn their dead,” said Muslim Advocates senior staff attorney Matt Callahan. “Across the nation, Muslims trying to build cemeteries have faced similar roadblocks. Our clients have lost significant time and money trying to build their cemetery, and we will keep fighting to ensure that they finally achieve that goal.” ih

ACHIEVERS

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) appointed Faisal M. Qazi, 46, to the California Commission on Aging, on Oct. 2, 2020.

Since 2011, Dr. Qazi has served as president and co-founder of MiNDS (Medical Network Devoted to Service), a nonprofit that provides specialty health care services to underserved families.

In December 2015, he spearheaded the “United for San Bernardino” campaign, which raised over $200,000 for the victims of the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting. He also served on the Justice Mental Health Project Advisory Board during January 2016.

Qazi, an assistant professor at the University of California, Riverside since 2018 and an assistant professor at Western University since 2008, is also an Advisor to University of Chicago’s Initiative on Islam and Medicine.

During his career, his works have been featured in the mainstream media, he was listed among the Best Doctors in Inland Empire in the late 2000s and received the St. Jude Medical Center’s Values in Justice award in 2016.

In addition to being a City of Fullerton Commissioner and member of its Citizen’s Community Development Committee since 2014, he has received the New Leaders Council’s 40 under 40 Outstanding Service award (2012) and the Calif. State Assembly Representative’s Excellence in Leadership Award (2013).

A practicing neurologist and member of the California Neurology Society, Qazi holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (Touro University, College of Osteopathic Medicine).

Michael A. Rashid (president, Michael A. Rashid Associates; former CEO, AmeriHealth Caritas) took over as director of the Philadelphia Commerce Department on Nov. 30, 2020. While announcing his appointment, Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney said, “Michael Rashid brings an unmatched combination of entrepreneurial passion, long-standing relationships and a business savvy that will be crucial for Philadelphia as we confront the extraordinarily challenging economic climate facing our city.” Rashid, who holds an MBA in finance (Harvard Business School) and a bachelor’s in marketing (The University of Southern California), served on the Obama administration’s National Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (2013-15). Having dedicated his career to ensuring that people in need have access to health care, Rashid seeks to strengthen the earning power of minority residents and grow minority businesses.

The American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF; amuslimcf.org) presented its Outstanding Fundraising Professional award to Azhar Azeez (director, Fund Development, Islamic Relief USA; former president, ISNA) on Nov. 14, 2020.

Founded in 2016, this grass-roots national nonprofit organization focuses on creating donor-advised funds, giving circles, distributing grants and building endowments for Muslim Americans. ih

Muslim Winners 2020

Federal, state, county and city legislatures welcomed several new Muslim members. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) won their first reelection races for a second term in the U.S. House. Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.) — in Congress since 2008 — was reelected.

Minnesota also elected five Somalis to state and council seats.

■ Omar Fateh (D), a 30-year-old business-systems analyst at the University of Minnesota, became the first Somali-American in the Minnesota Senate's history. He wants to continue “bridging the gap” between the African immigrant community and the American culture in which he was born and raised. He has worked for the city as a community specialist to improve outreach to African immigrants and is currently the vice-chair of the Hennepin County 2040 Comprehensive Plan Policy Advisory Committee. ■ Hodan Hassan (D) was reelected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, making her the second Somali-American woman elected to be a state legislator. Since her arrival 20+ years ago, she has worked as a social worker, a mental health clinician and an advocate for social and economic justice and human rights. She currently serves as executive director of Pathways 2 Prosperity. ■ Mohamud Noor (D) was reelected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. A computer scientist by training, before he entered politics he was a system administrator for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. He is also the director of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota. ■ Abdullahi Abdulle (D), 36, an associate transportation planner for the City of Minneapolis, became the first Somali elected to New Brighton City Council, as well as the suburb’s first Black and first Muslim council member. He joined the Minnesota Army National Guard during his freshman year at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and served until 2018. ■ Iman M. Jodeh, a community activist, educator, and daughter of Palestinian immigrants, became the first Muslim lawmaker elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. As a community liaison for Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, she continues to advocate at the Capitol for Muslims.

In 2008, she founded the nonprofit Meet the Middle East to help Americans understand the “most misunderstood region of the world.” She lectures at the University of Denver and is a regular guest speaker on Islam and the Middle East’s geopolitical climate. ■ Nafisa Fai, 43, a Somali small business owner and public health expert, was elected Washington County (Ore.) Commissioner — the commission’s first Black member and first Muslim member. She has worked for the American Red Cross, the Multnomah County Health Department and Upstream Public Health (a Portland-based

nonprofit) and done consulting work. She now manages the county’s contact efforts. ■ Nadia Hasan (D), a daughter of immigrants elected to the Beaverton City Council (Ore.), brings a wealth of experience as a former high school teacher in Beaverton schools and a human resources/marketing professional who has worked at Nike, Fred Meyer, Warner Bros. and other Fortune 100 companies. ■ In Wisconsin Samba Baldeh, 49, who emigrated from the Gambia in 2000, became the first Muslim elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, as well as the first Black man to represent Dane County in the legislature. A former president and current member of the City of Madison common council, he was declared the winner with 80% of the vote in a White-majority district. ■ In Florida, lawyer Christopher Benjamin, became the first Muslim American elected to a statewide office — he represents the state’s 107th District in the House of Representatives.

After a three-year tour of duty in the US Army, Christopher enrolled in south Florida’s only HBCU, Florida Memorial University, where he led various campus organizations as the Kappa Gamma chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the NAACP college division and served as class president and attorney general of the Student Disciplinary Council. He has his own law practice, The Barrister Firm, and is a certified mediator, a qualified arbitrator, a special magistrate in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and an active public servant. ■ In Delaware, Madinah Wilson-Anton (D), 27, became the first Muslima lawmaker to serve in the state’s General Assembly and the first Muslim to hold the local state House seat, securing 72% of the vote. She first made waves back in September by defeating the 11-term incumbent Rep. John Viola.

In her own words, her win sends a message “to our community that we are a part of this country, no matter if you’re a first-generation or if you’re a descendant of enslaved Africans. We’re all part of this country.”

Name

Aziz Akbari

State Public Office

Calif. Alameda County Water District Director

Aliya Christi Calif. SF City College Board

Hosam Haggag Calif. Santa Clara City Clerk

Omar Calif. Sunnyvale City Council

Sam Din Hindi Calif. Foster City

Farrah Khan Calif. Mayor

M. Saud Anwar Conn. State Senate

Christopher Benjamin Fla. State House Ako Abdul Samad

Raheela Ahmed Ia. State House

Md. Prince George’s County Public Schools Board of Education

Sam Baydoun Mich. Wayne County Commission

Eric Sabree Mich. Wayne County Treasurer

Adel Mozip Mich. Dearborn Public Schools Board

Yameen Jaffer Mich. Pittsfield Board of Trustees

Mo Sabbagh Mich. Crestwood School Board

Charlene Elder Mich. Wayne County 3rd circuit court

Helal Farhat Mich. Wayne County 3rd circuit court

Mariam Bazzi

Mich. Wayne County 3rd circuit court Abdullah Hammoud Mich. State House

Sharon Dumas El- Amin Minn. Minneapolis Board of Education Nida Allam N.C. Durham County Board of Commissioners

Nasif Majeed N.C. State House

Mujtaba Mohammed N.C. State Senate Safiya Wazir N.H. State House

Aboul Khan N.H. State House

Fahim Abedrabbo N.J. Clifton Board of Education

Feras Awwad

N.J. Clifton Township Board of Education Melinda Huerta Lee N.J. West Orange Board of Education Sahar Aziz N.J. Westfield School Board Smita Nadia Hussain N.J. Bloomingdale Board of Education Bernice “Tina” Jallo N.J. Somerset County Surrogate’s Court Yousef J Saleh N.J. City of Jersey City Council

Khizar A. Sheikh N.J. Mountain Lakes Borough City Council

Fozia Janjua N.J. Mt. Laural City Council

Zeeshan Siddiqi

N.J. Old Bridge City Council Mohammad Ramadan N.J. Haledon City Council Shahin Khalique N.J. Paterson City Council

Zohran Kwame

N.Y. State Assembly Robert Mamdani Jackson N.Y. New York State Senate

Charles Fall

Mauree Taylor Sharif Street N.Y. New York State Assembly Okla. State House

Penn. State Senate

■ Palestinian American Fady Qaddoura (D.) is the first Muslim in the Indiana Senate. In 2016, Indianapolis mayor Joe Hogsett appointed him Controller of the City of Indianapolis and Marion County to fix the city’s budget deficit. He balanced the city’s annual budget, helped it receive four credit upgrades from four national credit rating agencies and “smartsized” the city government to save taxpayers over $70 million over three years. At the end of 2019 he became chief innovation officer for Katz Sapper & Miller, the city’s largest accounting firm. ■ Zohran Mamdani (D.), 29, a housing advocate, represents Astoria, a multiethnic neighborhood in Queens, in the New York State Assembly. Mamdani is not only the first Indian but also the third Muslim elected to the assembly. Muslims make up 9% of the city’s population — about 800,000 people. ■ Farrah Khan, the first Muslim American woman elected to the Irvine City Council (2018), is now Irvine’s mayor. During her career she has, among other things, created 500 workforce housing units and 200 permanent affordable housing units for homeless people, veterans, disabled people, and senior citizens as well as authored an option for Community Choice Energy, a program that gives local residents control of where their energy comes from.

Khan is currently chair of the Irvine Green Ribbon Environmental Committee and stresses preserving green spaces and transferring to renewable energy. ■ Omar Din, 23, was elected to the council of his city’s birth, Sunnyvale. His experiences of volunteering at community centers and mosques have given him a deep relationship with the city. During 2016, he was appointed to the city council as Parks and Recreations Commissioner, where he oversaw the annual budget of over $40 million for the department and the development and renovations of parks and recreational facilities. ■ Belal Aftab, elected to Saratoga’s city council, also serves as chair of the Traffic Safety Commission in the City of Saratoga, vice chair of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority Citizens Advisory Committee and as a member of the Flight Safety Foundation.

He currently works for financial technology company Stripe, which is building economic infrastructure for the internet, and is co-founder and co-lead of Stripe’s Interfaith Community Group. ■ Mauree Turner, 27, who won her race for state House in Oklahoma, became the first Muslim lawmaker elected to that state’s legislature. She was raised in a Muslim and Baptist household. ■ Fauzia Rizvi was elected to the Corona, Calif., Western Municipal Water District Division 5. Describing herself as a mother, engineer, small business owner and community advocate, she has lived in Corona for 17 years and has worked with, among others, For the People Task Force, City of Corona Homeless Task Force, CNUSD PTA, Corona Norco Interfaith Association, Beloved Corona and Riverside Community College Measure C Bond Oversight Committee. She has 20 years of experience in implementing innovative solutions to important environmental and water issues in the private sector. ■ Aziz Akbari was reelected Alameda County Water District director, representing at-large in California. A University of Southern California (‘15) graduate, Aziz has a background in industrial engineering and resource planning. He has been the county’s consumer affairs commissioner since February 2014. ■ San Francisco bornand-raised Aliya Chisti, elected to the City College Board, is the first Muslima elected in San Francisco’s history. In her current capacity of overseeing the Department of Children Youth and Their Families’ Free City College Program, she holds the partnership between City College of San Francisco and the City and County of San Francisco. In 2016, a 12-member board appointed by President Obama selected her to serve as a Fulbright Scholar in North Macedonia, where she taught English and developed higher education policy recommendations. ■ Hosam Haggag was reelected unopposed as Santa Clara City Clerk — the first MuslimAmerican elected in the city’s history. ih