Research & Resources > Press Releases > November 30, 2007

Update on MPV Activities

In June, Muslims for Progressive Values held our first North American conference. During the 3-day meeting, we developed a strategic plan to forward our organization’s values. We also held elections to select Board Members to carry out various tasks designed to establish MPV as a legitimate, viable, and sustainable network of spiritually progressive Muslims and allies working for a true vision of Islam as tolerant, inclusive, merciful, compassionate and just.
With a mission to promote justice and peace on all levels, MPV is principled on six core values:

  • personal and individual identification as Muslims;
  • social equality for all (regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or ability);
  • separation of church and state;
  • freedom of speech and expression;
  • open debate; and
  • promotion of peace.

Today, I’m happy to share with you a list of all we’ve accomplished since then; including activities we have organized and sponsored, those that are underway, and our future goals.

Although our by-laws require the Board Members to meet a minimum of three times a year, we have been meeting once a month since June as we have so much ground to cover.

  1. Kareem Elbayar has successfully incorporated MPV and is in the process of filing for our non-profit status.
  2. In order for people to truly understand what MPV is about, we felt it was important for us to publish position papers on issues we stand for. Topics so far include Islam and Democracy, Apostasy and Blasphemy, and Transparency and Accountability in Islamic organizations. Many more issues are in the pipeline, including Terrorism and GLBT rights, and we will be inviting others to contribute in their fields of interest.
  3. Events MPV co-sponsored: God Loves Beauty Arts and Music Festival, Jerusalem Peace Makers, FaithJam, Jerusalem Women Speak. Vanessa Karam represented MPV as the Muslim participant in the first Pilgrimage of Peace, an interfaith trip to Israel and Palestine.
  4. August 24th, Board Member Raquel Saraswati resigned as she found herself unable to contribute enough time. We appreciate her honesty and hope to work with her in the future.
  5. Advisory Board: We have carefully started building this board, with Ms. Zainah Anwar, Executive Director of Sisters in Islam the first to join us. Advisory Board members are not just to be names on a list but are actual partners in our activism. We hope to establish an effective and diverse network of progressive Muslims this way.
  6. MPV incorporated the Progressive Islam website (www.progressiveislam.org).
  7. MPV endorsed Matthew Shepard anti-hate crimes legislation, and ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act), which would provide protection from workplace discrimination for the GLBT community.
  8. MPV joins 400 other religious organizations and clergy in support of same-sex marriage rights.
  9. Board Members have been quoted and written about, and have contributed to numerous media outlets.

In the works, future plans:

  1. An MPV summer camp/ conference for next summer.
  2. Membership survey
  3. Fundraising
  4. Membership drive
  5. An educational curriculum for young children
  6. Invitation of new Board Members
  7. Invitation of new Advisory Board Members
  8. Startup of MPV college chapters
  9. On-line conference, lecture
  10. Resource list of Muslims and Muslim organizations
  11. Production of audio and video content for Internet streaming

If you have any questions, suggestions and/or comments please write to me. As you can see we have a lot of ground to cover and I encourage and welcome you to volunteer for the many works in progress.

Sincerely,

Ani Zonneveld
MPV President