Circular: C5/10
Membership Status
At the Sixth Constitutional conference held in Birmingham, UK on 4 December 2010, Clause 3.1 of The Constitution was amended as follows:
3. Membership
3.1 Eligibilty
Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Bodies, Jamaats, Communities or Organisations established in such geographical regions as may be feasible and agreed by the Executive Council shall be eligible for a single membership of the Federation. Where no Regional Federation exists, the current individual member Jamaats shall form such a Regional Federation and apply for membership of the Federation no later than eight years from this change in the Constitution (8 October 2003). In the event one or more current individual member Jamaat shall not join a Regional Federation, they shall become Associate Members of the Federation with no voting rights. In a region where no Regional Federation is constituted nor applied for membership no later than eight years from the date of this change (8 October 2003), then all individual member Jamaats in that region shall become Associate Members with no voting rights (“Continuing Members”). Other than the current individual member Jamaats no such individual Jamaat, Community or Organisation be eligible to apply for membership of the Federation. Continuing Members within a Geographical Region will be treated as if they were a single member of the federation and the allocation of delegates and Executive Council seats will be as per clause 10.1. The apportioning of the Executive Council seats will be allocated by the Executive Council within the Geographic Region.
As a result of the above the following Members which were Associate Members prior to the Sixth Constitutional Conference have reverted to full Membership. However, they will need to form regional federations in their respective areas before 7 October 2011 and successfully apply for the Membership; failing which, they will become Associate Members without voting rights.
1. Aden Jamaat
2. Dubai Jamaat
3. Kutch Federation
4. Muhammadi Welfare – Australia
5. Mumbai Jamaat
6. Panjatan Society of Victoria – Australia
However, the above amendment will not affect membership status of Africa Federation, CoEJ, Nasimco and Pakistan Federation as they are already federated members.
Shabbar Dhalla
Secretary General
8 December 2010