FYI, wish l had received it earlier for folks in Atlanta who may have had an interest in attending. PRESS RELEASE EQUALITY OF MUSLIM WOMEN and MEN BASED ON QUR'AN and SUNNAH Islamic Symposium in Atlanta Condemns Abuse of Women Representatives from Jamaat al-Muslimeen International, Baitul Salaam Network Atlanta and Tawheed Center ,Baltimore gathered in Stone Mountain (Atlanta), Georgia to analyze the struggle of Muslim women. The sympo sium convened by Sis. Hadayai Majeed urged Muslim women to stand up for their rights to equality in all fields of life as taught in the Qur'an and authentic Hadith. The activities began on October 29 with a juma' Khutba at masjid al-Muminun by Dr. Kaukab Siddique, Ameer of Jamaat al-Muslimeen. The topic was "UNITY MUST BE BASED IN QUR'AN AND SUNNAH." The khateeb pointed out that mosques which do not encourage men and women to work together are contributing to the breakup of the family system in America. Dr. Kaukab urged the Muslims to oppose OPPRESSION and called for united efforts to STOP THE IMPRISONMENT OF SHAIKH OMAR 'ABDEL RAHMAN. He condemned sanctions against Islamic Sudan and urged Muslims to make sure the U.S. does not take steps against Sudan. The Khutba was highly praised by the audience who came to greet the khateeb after Juma'. The Symposium began that evening with an introductory session with IMAM ALI SIDDIQUI from Los Angeles, California as keynote speaker. The learned Imam urged Muslims to increase their spiritual enlightenment and to constantly send salutations on Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). Imam Ali, who is the founder of DARUL IFTA in America described the suffering of Muslims who are given advice by religious bodies in Saudi Arabia and other countries. This advice from overseas is extremely damaging for the Islamic life of Muslims in America because these overseas muftis have little understanding of the situation in America. An effort is being made by Jamaat al-Muslimeen to develop branches of Darul Ifta all over America, the speaker pointed out. There was extensive question and answer session after Imam Ali's speech. The main panel session was held on October 30. The guest speakers were : Dr. Kaukab Siddique (Baltimore, Maryland) Sis. Baseemah Lagander (Charleston, West Virginia) Sis. Nisa' Ameen (Denver, Colorado) Sis. Ashira Na'im (Baltimore, Maryland) Imam Ali Siddiqui (Los Angeles) Sis. Kareemah Abdullah (Atlanta) The Chairperson was Sis. Hadayai Majeed of Bailtul Salaam Network. A representative from the non-Muslim communities also spoke. The room was full of sisters in Islamic dress (hijab) . The speakers addressed the issues related to the abuse of women in Muslim and non-Muslim societies and proposed remedies. In a powerful presentation Sis. Ashira Na'im, Secretary General of Jamaat al-Muslimeen,condemned the second class status of Muslim women in mosques. She said that Islam is a liberating force and Muslim women have not given up subservience to America's culture only to be treated shabbily by Muslim men. She urged Muslim women to go the mosques with her and reclaim their space. Mosques, she pointed out, should be patterned after the example of the Prophet's (pbuh) mosque where equal participation and shoora of all believers was the rule. Muslim women are at least half the Muslim population and as they have children with them, they should have more than half the space in mosques, she taught. Instead Muslim women are being shoved into a little corner at the back of the mosque, she pointed out. Sis. Raiza, Director of Tawheed Center in Baltimore, and Br. Salahuddin, National Ameer of Jamaat al-Muslimeen, spoke words of advice and example from the floor. The program concluded with a stirring du'a from Imam Ali Siddiqui. Dr. Kaukab Siddique's book THE STRUGGLE OF MUSLIM WOMEN sold fast following the symposium. New Trend magazine which he edits was distributed to all participants and in various Atlanta communities. On October 31, guest speakers visited the sanctuary which has been built by Baitul Salaam in Atlanta for abused women and women in transience. The program will be published with photos in the forthcoming issue of New Trend. A copy can be ordered for $1 from: New Trend, P.O. Box 356, Kingsville, MD 21087, USA For Darul Ifta contact: [log in to unmask] For Baitul Salaam contact: Haleem 1 For Jamaat al-Muslimeen: Ash [log in to unmask] >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------