Not In Our Name - Not in anyone's name

I was riding in a car with four people after the Not In Our Name event...

I was excited because the Not In Our Name event had gone so well. The crowd was bigger this year and the energy during the event was greater. Each speaker had brought strength to the movement to work towards eliminating (yes, really) domestic violence. It was something each speaker and participant believed was possible and it was conveyed through the hopeful to the heart-wrenching words spoken.

Not every one of the speakers had personally experienced domestic violence, but they had experienced what domestic violence does. Whether or not a person realizes it, everyone is affected by this malady, whether they want to be or not. The effect could be personal, mental, through the community, economical, etc... Domestic violence is something that, unfortunately, pervades every aspect of the world. The purpose of the event was to educate everyone, but also to move people to action, in some capacity.

Ayonna Johnson, from the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, spoke of how one could take action through the community and legally. She spoke of many women who were in domestic violence situations, but who had fallen into legal battles as a result. This legal aspect really touched a few participants, with one mentioning "how important it was to remind people that there are legal steps to take and ways to use the processes already in place to make a difference. That's how easy it is."

Dr. Sue Boardman related how she had moved through her own personal struggles with domestic violence to seminary. She spoke of how her experiences helped her when she was fresh out of seminary and how she drew on them to help with awareness in the community she was serving. She was able to educate people and even found a place, Hannah's House, as a refuge for those experiencing domestic violence. Dr. Boardman gave a great example through herself of someone who was not only educated, but a clergy person. Her message was that anyone, no matter the status in life, could work to help eradicate domestic violence. She also conveyed how even humor can be a healing part of the process.

Tzipporah Gerson spoke about the importance of rituals and other familiar things can be an outlet for growing past domestic violence and breaking the cycle. She emphasized how some people who are from various communities, can use the practices of the community to help, even those practices that may not readily seem like they might. She specifically mentioned several Jewish traditions, not necessarily used in situations of domestic violence, but used in situations of healing, growth and renewal that were fantastic ways people of the Jewish community could work through domestic violence. She encouraged each participant to find healing and ways to act against domestic violence through our own personal rituals and practices, regardless of one's philosophy. She also shared the importance of many different communities being involved in the struggle against domestic violence, so he many types of victims had a comfortable place to heal.

Mona Eltahawy shared her own personal story of domestic violence. Her story was different than the physical violence many people think of when domestic violence is mentioned. Hers was a struggle with mental and emotional abuse. She was able to relate to many in the room who had similar experiences. She also spoke of an international movement, Musawah, which works for equality in Muslim families, but also conveys a message of the need for equality and respect in all families. Mona played a video from a conference she had attended in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the organization. She also played two videos from a campaign in India called, Ring the Bell. The campaign showed how even a small act could help break the cycle of violence, even if it was just for a moment, it might be the moment that made a difference. The videos greatly inspired the audience and showed again how easy it was to move to action.

I was riding in a car with four people after the Not In Our Name event. ALL of us had experienced domestic violence in some capacity. We also conveyed stories from others, both men and women, who had also experienced domestic violence in many capacities. With the sobering realization that statistics say 1 in 4 women worldwide experience domestic violence(1), we understood the affect and reach of domestic violence was greater than the statistics, at least in our experience. Much more will need to be done about domestic violence and, if the response from Not In Our Name is any indicator, it will.

Not In Our Name Website - contains resources for action

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Kelly
American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americanislamicfellowship.com

1 - Tjaden, Patricia & Thoennes, Nancy. National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, "Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence." (2000)

What Can I Do? - Not In Our Name - Interfaith Domestic Violence Awareness Event

On March 14, 2009, the American Islamic Fellowship in Atlanta, GA will host the SecondAnnual Faith-Based Domestic Violence Awareness Event. This event is designed to emphasize thatpeople of all faiths unconditionally condemn abuse and violence of all kinds. This event aims to highlightintercultural and interfaith efforts to bring an end to this social problem that transcends faith, racial,ethnic, class, and gender boundaries. Speakers at the event will share different faith and culturalperspectives in a united denunciation of Domestic Violence. This event aims to address the severity ofdomestic violence, to initiate partnerships and to network between various organizations and faithcommunities, as well as to highlight resources available to those in need.

The event will call communities and organizations to action, as confronting and defeatingdomestic violence is a collective and complex problem. The event will partner with representatives fromvarious local and national domestic violence organizations to provide information and support regardingtheir respective efforts. The organizers of this Second Annual Faith-Based Domestic Violence AwarenessEvent aspire to assist in expanding and promoting awareness about the resources available tothose affected by Domestic Violence. Through sustained efforts and cooperation across communities,cultures and geographic regions, we hope to maintain the networks and partnerships achieved inorganizing this event to work together year-round in combating the causes and repercussions of domesticviolence throughout the world.

In Atlanta, the American Islamic Fellowship will host this event on March 14, 2008. The eventwill take place at Emory University’s White Hall Room 208 from 7:00pm-9:00pm, featuringnetworking and light refreshments. Speakers will include Mona Eltahawy, an award-winning syndicatedcolumnist and an international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues, Ayonna Johnson of theWomen's Resource Center for Domestic Violence, Tzipporah Gerson, a volunteer with the Shalom Bayitprogram of the Jewish and Family Career Services in Atlanta, and Dr. Sue Boardman, an ordainedminister in the Presbyterian Church, a partner in ChangeWorksAtlanta, and a founding director ofHannah's House, a Domestic Violence shelter program. Music will be performed by Kerry Wentworth.The event aims to attract representatives from many faith traditions.

For more information and resources, please visit the Not In Our Name website or contact the American Islamic Fellowship at info@americanislamicfellowship.com.

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American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americansislamicfellowship.com

What Can I Do? Aasiya Zubair Hassan's Death

The American Islamic Fellowship was saddened and dismayed to hear of the death of Aasiya Zubair Hassan. Ms. Hassan worked hard to build bridges among the many different cultures of the world and was very respected by our community. AIF was also saddened to hear her husband, Muzzammil Hassan, has been charged in her murder. AIF Advisor, Asra Nomani writes about the family's struggles; "Deadly Family Secrets."

The AIF condemns all acts of violence irrespective of who is involved and what the impetus may have been. Domestic violence is a widespread problem that crosses all cultures, faiths, communities, races, and ethnic groups.On March 14, 2009, AIF is sponsoring the 2nd Annual "Not In Our Name: United Against Domestic Violence" (NION). NION is an inter and intra-faith effort to educate the public about this particularly difficult societal struggle. NION hopes to move participants to action and bring together diverse voices from many faith traditions to show solidarity toward bringing an end to all kinds of violence. Mona Eltahawy, an award-winning international journalist will be speaking at the event and addresses the issue of domestic violence in Islam surrounding Ms. Hassan's death in her article, "The Sister We Missed."

For more information about "Not In Our Name: United Against Domestic Violence," as well as informational, educational, and activist resources for domestic violence available nationally, please visit the NION website.

Many voices from within the Islamic community are speaking out against this terrible tragedy including the Islamic Society of North America who issued this statement. The SBIA San Jose Masjid has begun the initiative, "Imams Speak Out: Domestic Violence Will Not Be Tolerated in Our Communities" in an effort to spur Imams and communities to discuss this problem at Friday services. Muslims for Progressive Values, is sponsoring a petition to End Domestic Violence in the Muslim World. Please visit the petition site for more information.

Please contact AIF at newsletter@americanislamicfellowship.com for more information or questions.

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Board of Directors
American Islamic Fellowship
newsletter@americanislamicfellowship.com