FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Justice For All Calls for Urgent Action to Address the Humanitarian Crisis…
North American Imams And Muslim Leaders Letter To Bangladesh Government
H.E. Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, MP 12/21/2020
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000
Bangladesh
Dear Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen:
Assalamualaikum,
Honorable Foreign Minister, we admire Bangladesh’s remarkable generosity in allowing over a million Rohingya temporary safe haven. However, we request you stop the displacement to Bhasan Char. We are sure you share our values in feeling compassion for the stranger and the orphan. These are Islamic values and also universal norms. It is not the fault of the Rohingya that they are in need. They are fleeing genocide.
We, the undersigned North American Muslim leaders, are firmly against the Government of Bangladesh’s plans to move forward with the relocation of up to 100,000 Rohingya refugees from Cox’s Bazar District to Bhasan Char, an isolated island off the coast of the Bay of Bengal with precarious and unknown conditions, and vulnerable to cyclones.
According to the UN and other human rights organizations, more than a dozen families whose names appeared on the relocation list claim they were not consulted in this decision. Many refugees are fearful of being forced to move to the island after hearing of the “prison-like facilities” they would be subject to, as well as the government’s apparent reneging on cash gifts for people moving to the island. There are also very troubling reports of threats and violent mistreatment of traumatized Rohingya families.
These refugees have already suffered through crimes of genocide and unspeakable violence fueled by discrimination and racism in Myanmar. Certainly, to restore Rohingya homes and rights the international community must press the government of Myanmar more firmly. We also request from your government:
- Immediately stop relocation plans and return those on the island to their families and community in mainland Bangladesh
- Support a UN-led assessment team to review the safety, sustainability, feasibility and environmental conditions on the island
- Ensure due process that includes consent, and full and meaningful participation of Rohingya refugees in any plan for their relocation
- Let Bangladeshi civil society conduct and independent assessment of what Rohingya want.
The human rights and dignity of Rohingya refugees must be respected and upheld. The children or the refugees must also receive some sort of guidance and schooling, even now during the pandemic.
Thank you for your attention to these essential matters. We welcome the opportunity to support the Bangladesh Government’s protection of Rohingya Muslim refugees. We understand your great responsibility and will continue to pressure the Burmese government.
Signed,
- Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, Chair, Burma Task Force, Founder Justice For All, Chicago, United States
- Imam Muhammad Abdul Jabbar, Justice For All, Georgia, United States
Canada
- Maryam Qudsia, ICNA SISTERS, Member, Mississauga, Ontario Canada
- Taha Ghayyur, Justice for All Canada, Executive Director, Mississauga, Ontario Canada
- Diba Hareer, CCOC, Ontario, Canada
- Samir Hussein, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Imam Nedzad Hafizovic, Bosnian Islamic Centre, Toronto Ontario Canada
- Nebih Feta, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- ChaplainRania Lawendy, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Imam Mohammad Nasim Barak Eslah, Islamic Association (Masjid Ali RD), Vice President EIA Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
- Yasmeen Mirza, Muslim Association of Hamilton, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
- Ayub Hamid, Muslim Neighbour Nexus, Mississauga Ontario Canada
- Nasir Sarwar ,OAPP, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Imam Sayed Tora, Muslim Association of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Dr Raza Khan, Lawren Harris Medical Centre, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
- Muhammad Zahid, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Imam Refaat Mohamed Mohamed, President, Canadian Council of Imams, Aurora, Ontario. Canada
- Farooq Mohiuddin, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Jamal Khan, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
- imam Ibrahim Hindy, Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Imam Huzaifah Khan, ICCM, Milton Ontario, Canada
- Muneeb Nasir, Cordoba Centre for Civic Engagement, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Zahid Rafique, General Secretary, Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
United States
- Abdullah Khan, Imam leader of the Muslim community, Huntsville, Alabama, United States
- Ashfaq Taufique, President, Emeritus Birmingham Islamic Society, Hoover, Alabama, United States
- Shaykh Suhail Mulla, Resident Scholar Islamic Society of West Valley, Northridge, California, United States
- Mufti Ibrahim Qureshi, Islamic Center Northridge California, Granada Hills, United States
- Imam Tarik Ata, Orange County Islamic Foundation Mission, Viejo, California, United States
- Dr. Nabeeh Hasan, Director of Colorado Muslim Speakers Bureau, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Anis Shaikh, Executive Board of Directors, Islamic Center of Connecticut, Connecticut, United States
- Imam Dr Talib Shareef, President, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque, District of Columbia, United States
- Imam Nadim Ali, Community Masjid, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Mufti Muhammad Shareef Faani, Greenview Madani Center, Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States
- Imam Zakir Ullah, Lawrenceville, Whyislam.org, Georgia, United States
- Mr. Naeem Ahmed Mulla, Alpharetta Al-Rahmah, Chairman, Masjid Jafar, Georgia, United States
- Manzoor Khalid Lilburn, Director, Masjid Al-Momineen, Georgia, United States
- Samia Muhammad, Masjid al Furqan, Marietta, Georgia, United States
- Imam Azfar Uddin, Imam Islamic Foundation North Gurnee, Illinois, United States
- Rahim Shah Akhunkhail, Chair & Founder, MOUSA (Muslims of USA), Georgia, United States
- Masood Khan, Lawrenceville, ICNA, Georgia United States
- Imam Muhammad Abbasi, Macon Islamic Center of Macon, Georgia United States
- Dr. Abdul Waheed, Sound Vision, Illinois, United States
- Imam Ousmane Drame, Masjid Al-Farooq, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Imam Ayman Soliman, Nationwide Mosque, Chicago, Illinois United States
- Nasser Hussein Imam Ifs Villa Park Illinois United States
- Imam Ahmad Hemaya, Union Kentucky, United States
- Hena Zuberi, Director, Justice For All, Washington DC, United States
- Dr. M. Samir Jafri Jafri, President, Board of Directors Muslim Community Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
- Dr. Ashraf Sufi, Muslim Community Center, Maryland, United States
- Sarwar Faraz, Clarksburg, Maryland, United States
- Dr Baig, Burtonsville, Islamic Community Center of Laurel, Maryland, United States
- Syed Ahmed, Helping Hand for Relief and Development, Maryland United States
- Dr. Amin Ezzeddine, Vice President, MAS Maryland, Germantown, Maryland, United States
- Imam Faisal Khan, Director of Religious Affairs, Islamic Center of Boston, Wayland Wayland Massachusetts, United States
- Imam Ismail Fenni, Brighton Yusuf Mosque, Massachusetts, United States
- Imam Wissam Baki Baki, Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts, United States
- Irbaz Hannan Mattapan, Massachusetts, United States
- Imam Dr Asif Hirani, Worcester Islamic Center, Massachusetts, United States
- Vincent Ware, Director of Programs, Muslim American Society, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Imam Mr Abdessamad Qesmi Methuen, American Muslim Society, Danvers, Massachusetts, United States
- Othmane Habboulli, President , NAFIS Boston Center, Massachusetts, United States
- Emad Ezzat, Executive Director, Roxbury I. M. S. O., S. I. B. Massachusetts, United States
- Imam Adnan Cinar Methuen, UAMA, Massachusetts, United States
- Dr. Dris Djermoun, Executive Director, Andover Islamic Council of New England, Massachusetts, United States
- Shaikh Mirza Yawar Baig, West Springfield Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States
- Abdul Zahir, Former President, Fall River Islamic Center of South Coast, Massachusetts, United States
- Imam Suleiman Hani, Al Maghrib Institute, Michigan, United States
- Imam Khalil Markham, Detroit Muslim Center Mosque and Community Center, Michigan, United States
- Mr Hani Salem, Islamic Center of Detroit, Dearborn, Michigan United States
- Imam Tauheed Rashad, Detroit Community of W.D. Mohammed, Michigan, United States
- Shaykh Abdul Bari, Dream of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, United States
- Humayun Kabeer, former President, Manchester Islamic Council of New England, New Hampshire, United States
- Imam Adel Elmorsi, ICM2, New Jersey, United States
- Dr Syed Ehtisham, South Plainfield , New Jersey, United States
- Syed Gillani, Area Manager, Helping Hand USA, New Jersey, United States
- Dr Parvaiz Malik, Federation of Islamic Medical Association, New Jersey, United States
- Ammad Sheikh, Founder of the Muslims of Long Island, Huntington Station, New York, United States
- Imam Yaser Alkhooly, Syracuse HHRD, New York, United States
- Imam Abdul Mufti, East Elmhurst Al Madni Inc, New York, United States
- Linda Sarsour Executive Director MPower Change Brooklyn New York United States
- Chaplain Rabia Harris Founder Muslim Peace Fellowship Stony Point New York United States
- Moulana Abdur Rahman, Awal Moulana Imam of Darul-Hidayah East Elmhurst New York United States
- Imam abdul Mufti Imam Al Madni inc East Elmhurst, New York, United States
- Moulana Abdur Rahman Awal Moulana Imam of Darul-Hidayah East Elmhurst New York United States
- Muftī Mohammed Uddin President Rihlatul ilm Foundation Lansdale Pennsylvania United States
- Shahid Mian, President, Central Islip Masjid, Darul Quran, New York, United States
- Imam Muhammad Shahidullah, Jamaica Interfaith Center of USA, New York, United States
- Sidratul Muntaha, President, Islip Halqa e Khawateen, Long Island, New York, United States
- President Habeeb Ahmed, Islamic Center of Long Island, New York, United States
- Imam Abdul Khan, Director General, Jamaica Masjid Omar Ben Abdel Aziz, New York, United States
- Abul Mesbahuddin, Bay Shore Masjid Darul Quran, New York, United States
- Dr Almas Abbasi Commack, Stony Brook Hospital, New York, United States
- Abdul Aziz Boro-Bhuiyan, Chairperson, New Hyde Park Muslim Community of Nassau County, New York, United States
- Mohammad Ahmed, Lindenhurst, New York, United States
- Mohammad Shahid, Bay Shore, New York, United States
- Imam Abdur Rahman Khan, Charlotte MEC, North Carolina, United States
- Carlin Saafir, President, Philadelphia United Muslim Masjid, Pennsylvania, United States
- Chaplain Mr. Samir Soulaiman Providence Department of Corrections, Rhode Island, United States
- Dr. Amjad Kinjawi , Board of Directors, Pawtucket Muslim Society of RI, Rhode Island, United States
- Imam Rafiq Mahdi, Farragut Muslim Community of Knoxville, Tennessee United States
- Imam Faisal Saeed, Chattanooga Masjid Muhammad, Tennessee, United States
- Shaykha Zaynab Ansari, Women’s Scholar-in-Residence Tayseer Seminary Knoxville Tennessee United States
- Imam Faisal Saeed, Imam Masjid Muhammad, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
- Imam Tyerre El Amin Boyd ,Imam Masjid New Africa Center for Human Development, Hitchcock, Texas, United States
- Imam Mohammed ElFarooqui, Imam Islamic Society of Greater Houston, Baytown, Texas, United States
- Imam Dr Basem Hamid, Wasat Institute, Shadow Creek Muslim Community Center, Pearland, Texas, United States
- Imam Daniel Hernández Imam/ President, Pearland Islamic Center, President Houston Imams Association, Pearland, Texas, United States
- Imam Yaser Birjas Religious Director Valley Ranch Islamic Center Irving Texas United States
- Imam Dr. Omar Suleiman, Founder and President, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, Texas, United States
- Zahed Kabir, Garland, Texas, United States
- Mohammed Syed Iqbal, MUNA, Dallas, Texas, United States
- Imam Dr Daoud Nassimi Herndon, Professor of Islam, NOVA College, Virginia, United States
- Dr Sadaf Ijaz, Chester, Virginia, United States
- Mihammed Husseini, President of Mustafa Center, Annandale, Virginia United States
- Aneelah Afzali, Executive Director, American Muslim Empowerment Network, Seattle, Washington United States
- Ali Khan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States