COMMUNITY MATTERS
Faith Leaders Stand with Indigenous Nations
The Alhuda Foundation mosque and community center, whose construction began on a 13-acre lot in 2019, had a ceremonial opening May 30. Located in Fishers, Ind., the June 3rd formal events were attended by neighboring mosques’ representatives, elected officials and interfaith representatives, including Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Indiana State Senator Fady Qaddoura and City of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. Carson said, “The Alhuda Foundation’s new Islamic Center is not only stunning. It also creates a greater sense of place and pride for Central Indiana’s dynamic Muslim community.” Fadness said, “I can’t tell you how excited we are to have this facility here in our community. And, to be honest with you, until a resident gets to come in here and see this … they truly have built an iconic facility here in the city of Fishers and something the entire community can and should be proud of.”
The Fall River-based Islamic Center of South Coast Massachusetts officially opened its permanent home — a two-story office-style building — in mid-July. The community had purchased the property in 2018, but its opening was delayed for three years because they had to find the right contractors to make the required building improvements. President Dr. Abdul Majid Dudha, a
The Muslim contingent to the Multi-faith Delegation at Treaty People Gathering in Northern Minnesota and Line 3 Protests
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ROM JUNE 5-8, OVER 350 FAITH LEADERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, ORGANIZED by GreenFaith, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MN IPL) and other national faith-based organizations, traveled to northern Minnesota for the Treaty Peoples Gathering. This was in response to the Indigenous leaders’ call to stand in solidarity with them against Line 3, the massive tar sands pipeline from Canada being built on their treaty lands. This pipeline will break the treaties that Washington had signed with them. Having a faith presence at the event was a powerful, important and multi-faith resistance to fossil fuel projects. Such efforts need to continue. The Muslim contingent included ISNA Green Initiative Nana Firman (GreenFaith) and Imam Saffet A. Catovic (Muslim Alliance in North America), Muhammad Tariq Rahman (ICNA) and Whitney Terrill (MN IPL [not pictured]). Over 2,000 activists and leaders from across the country, including members of Indigenous nations, organized and participated in prayers, trainings, marches, protests and direct actions to demand that President Biden revoke the permits for Enbridge, the Canadian-based oil company building the Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota, and all other fossil fuel projects. Such big projects don’t get stopped without multi-faith solidarity, grassroots support and activism. By exercising their moral power, people can pressure leaders to do what is right. Commenting at the gathering, Imam Catovic said “As Muslims, we are commanded to stand for justice and with those who are oppressed. As a matter of faith, we must engage in hisba (accountability) by enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong. This oil pipeline, which will pollute the climate, destroy habitat and threaten drinking water on Indigenous lands, is wrong. So together, we rise so we can pressure leaders around the globe to end all new fossil fuel projects and deforestation, to respect Indigenous rights, to create green jobs.” Working together, people of faith and spirit have a powerful moral voice that can influence decision makers to protect the people and their shared sacred Earth. People should join the groundswell of religious action by sharing this message on their social media: #StopLine3. #Faiths4Climate. ih
pulmonologist, said the 20-year-old association had then been seeking a permanent location since day one. Fall River is the state’s tenth-largest city. In 2010 they had purchased a former Catholic school. They sold it in 2015, finding that they could not afford to make the improvements.
Transition: After 16 years of service as Muslim Advocates’ first executive director and president, Farhana Khera stepped down on July 16. Founding board members Farah Brelvi and Asifa Quraishi-Landes will join the staff as interim
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 ISLAMIC HORIZONS 13
