WF > Secretariat > Conferences & EXCO > Executive Council > Press Releases > 2nd Executive Council Meeting in New York

Enter in peace and safety. Allah is the Best Protector and He is the Most Merciful

8 November 2025 / 18 Jamaadi al Ula 1447

The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities - serving with simplicity and sincerity, enabling and facilitating all community endeavours

The World Federation is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations

Vision Statement

The World Federation exists to achieve the pleasure of Allah SWT by developing spiritual and vibrant communities serving humanity

Mission Statement

The World Federation enables its member institutions to promote the values and practices of the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Faith for the spiritual and material well being of humanity at large

Press Release
2nd Executive Council Meeting - New York

Huseini Madressa, New York was the venue for a three day packed programme organised by the World Federation and graciously hosted by Shia Ithna Asheri Jamat of New York (SIJNY). The World Federation team, numbering over 20 from the UK, was joined by NASIMCO Community Leaders, Officers and Community Leaders from Allentown, Albany, Dallas, Edmonton, New York, Seattle, Stockholm, Minneapolis, Toronto and Vancouver. Also in attendance were Councillors Mohamed Moledina, Dr. Akber Mithani, Dr. Asgher Moledina and Hussein Walji.

New York community welcomes the World Federation Presentations of Friday 18^th May 2001

On Friday, May 18, following welcome address from Al Haj Haider Dinani and Al Haj Gulam Dinani, Dr. Sibtain Panjwani, the Secretary General of The World Federation launched the team presentation titled “FROM VISION TO REALITY”. The purpose of this presentation was to give a broad overview of the depth and breadth of the services rendered by the World Federation around the globe.

With meticulous precision, members of the Secretariat team enlightened the audience with different face of the multi dimensional activities of this world body. The 90 minute presentation, by nine presenters, appeared almost seamless and encapsulated the teamwork at the World Federation which has 60 volunteers of all age groups. The entire presentation is now available on www.world-federation.org for the community to view online.

With characteristic clarity, Dr. Panjwani illustrated the membership structure and the modus operandi of the organisation. He emphasised the need to have ‘virtual teams’ at every structure of our community. Such teams will be working across organisational boundaries, contributing to webs of relationships that together will weave the future of our community.

Sheikh Mustafa Jaffer, the Chief Co-ordinating Officer gave a rare glimpse into the processes involved at the offices of the Secretariat. He explained that after decisions have been made at all levels of the World Federation hierarchy, it is the Secretariat, being the soul of the World Federation, that goes on to implement these decisions. The Secretariat is therefore the dynamic hub around which the whole wheel of the World Federation rotates.

As the CETAB Chairman, Al Hajj Murtaza Datoo watched proudly, his youngest team member Hassan Pirbhai (22 years), gave an impressive performance relating to the activities of the Career, Education & Training Advisory Board. The young Hassan outlined the importance of loans to deserving students within our community and explained the application processes to obtain the loan. In terms of Primary and Secondary schools that exist within our community worldwide, he expressed the need to improve the standard of education so as to provide a good opportunity for our children to develop their capabilities. Finally, there is a need to forge alliances within our community so as to provide opportunities for work experience to recently qualified graduates.

The ZCSS Chairman, Al Hajj Mohamed Visram passionately persuaded the audience that no child in the community should ever be deprived of attaining basic education. That was the mission of the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme, which is now sponsoring over 11,000 children worldwide.

On behalf of Mulla Muhsin Jaffer, the Chairman of Islamic Education Board, his deputy and long time associate, Al Hajj Naushad Mehrali profoundly prioritised the numerous objectives of the IEB ranging from projects on the Holy Quran, Zakireen, Madressa, Media, Books, Internet to many others. The idea is, Naushad Mehrali reiterated, that we provide opportunities to all for understanding Islam and sharing the Gift of Islam with each other.

In a sombre mood, Dr. Mohamedtaqi Walji, the Medical Advisory Board Chairman cautioned the community on the perils of ignoring issues relating to AIDS and Thallasemia. He enlightened the audience on the challenges and opportunities in community health services. In this regard, Dr Walji stressed the role of MAB as a strategic lead to all our community organisations in matters of health care. He went on to emphasise that only by empowering the Health Boards of Regional Federations and Jamaats will we, as a community, be able to effectively promote health awareness and combat diseases.

The Hon. Treasurer, Al Hajj Ahmed Daya got the audience ‘crunching’ numbers as he shared the figures for the past three years. He also educated the eager participants as to ways and means of assisting the World Federation from a financial perspective.

The Vice President, Dr. Ahmed Hassam updated the community on the progress and challenges faced by the Secretariat in extending assistance to the victims of the recent earthquake. He described the tragic state of the afflicted community in Kutch and provided details of the work carried out by the World Federation and other community agencies in terms of immediate financial relief, temporary housing and business loans. He assured the audience that as soon as the government issues guidelines on earthquake design criteria, the World Federation will embark upon permanent housing for the community. He also informed participants of the 25^th Anniversary conventions to be held during the term which will be six in all encompassing Medical, Youth, Tableegh, Women, Education and ZCSS matters. He also gave an update of the Mulla Asghar Memorial Fund, giving details of the collections so far.

Venturing to continue to engage the audience after almost 80 minutes of speeches, the President of the World Federation, Al Haj Hasnain Walji acknowledged that the team at the Secretariat was part of the legacy of Marhum Mulla Asghar and that he was truly blessed to lead such a team. The shared vision of the team could only become a reality if the community too was ready to buy into the vision. He launched the document “From Vision to Reality” and appealed to the audience to give it careful consideration. He reiterated the need for the community to seize the opportunity and network within the community with greater strides, always upholding the values of ‘Simplicity’ and ‘Sincerity’.

The Executive Council Meeting – Saturday 19^th May 2001

On Saturday, May 19, for the first time ever, the Executive Council of the World Federation held a session in the USA.

In his opening address the President, Dr. Hasnain Walji made an impassioned submission to the attending leaders from North America to be cognizant of the realities and challenges faced by the wider society in North America. “Our community is not immune” from it and to address the challenges, we, as a community would need to recognise that there was a “life beyond the Imambargah and the Jamaat”.

Al Haj Ghulamabbas Sajan emphasised the desirability of close co-operation between NASIMCO and the World Federation and expressed his satisfaction at the level of co-operation between the two organisations. He vocalized NASIMCO’s concern on the incompatibility of Aalims invited from abroad with the needs of the community in North America.

KUTCH/GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE

Reviewing the progress of the Kutch/Gujarat Earthquake project, the Vice President, Dr. Ahmed Hassam, who with Al Haj Muhsin Dharamsi, has been co-ordinating the project, reported that:

* Leaders of our community world wide had met in Kera within 3 weeks of the Earthquake. They decided to work together and to co-ordinate the rehabilitation programme.

* 200 of our families, totalling nearly 1,000 individuals have been affected.

* Income support and help towards rent for accommodation is being provided to those in need since February.

* Land has been purchased in Bhuj and a suitable land to resettle the community of Mariya is under negotiation.

* 140 Temporary houses have been built in Bhuj, Kera, Mundra and Nagalpur by the World Federation and other agencies.

* A scheme by the World Federation for interest free loans from local banks is well advanced so that the families can restart their businesses.

* The authorities have placed a moratorium on new constructions in most of the affected areas. Building of permanent houses and religious structures will be advanced as soon as the restriction is lifted.

* The World Federation is also in contact with other relief agencies including Sewa International, British Red Cross and government agencies.

The President assured the Council that all that was humanly possible was being done to resettle Mumineen in the affected areas. He stated that the work was progressing well, and he encouraged Councillors to direct any questions to the Secretariat on issues with regards to deployment of resources. Dr Ahmed Hassam is to revisit Kutch/Gujarat to review the progress on the resettlement work, Inshallah during the month of June 2001.

Under the agenda item Councillors’ Forum, Dr Akber Mithani, in his written submission, vocalised concerns on the misinformation emanating from certain quarters on the Kutch/Gujarat Earthquake project.

Reporting on the Flu Vaccination programme in Vancouver, he urged Jamaats to consider providing this valuable service in their Jamaats. He also made an impassionate plea to the Council to increase its awareness of the challenges posed by the seniors in the community and suggested that the World Federation organise a seniors convention.

Councillor Mohamed Moledina presented a paper on emphasising the levels of communication and urged fellow councillors to be proactive in enabling flow of information between the Secretariat and the grassroots.

Responding to a special invitation from the President, Al Haj Habib M. Habib shared his experience as a Vice Chairman of the Washington Democratic Group based in Seattle. He enumerated the benefits of interacting with the wider society particularly in the political process in the USA.

Introducing the Secretariat report, the Secretary General, Dr. Sibtain Panjwani focused upon the utilization of Huqooq funds handled by the Secretariat. He explained the various kinds of Huqooq collected ranging from Khums, Zakaat, Fitra, Sadqa, Kaffara, Imam Zamin, Qaza Namaz and Fasts, Nazr, Radde Mazalim, Widow and Orphans and other specific funds which had to be disbursed in accordance with the guidelines of the Shariah. The Secretary General informed the attentive Council that in the last three months, disbursements were made through the office of Ayatullah Seestani in Dezful to Iraqi refugees who are living in squalid conditions. There are also Shia refugees from Afghanistan living under appalling conditions as well as orphans and widows whose families have mysteriously disappeared in Iraq, who receive assistance from the World Federation through the offices of established and reputable agencies. Huqooq funds also go to the needy people of Pakistan and to our African Shia brothers in East Africa through the offices of Bilal Muslim Mission. The World Federation continues to assist Mumineen displaced from Somalia who receive assistance regardless of where they are – East Africa, Europe and even Pakistan. The needy from our communities in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa regularly receive welfare assistance as well as subsidies towards the costs of prescriptions.

In his presentation peppered with anecdotes, the Chairman of the Islamic Education Board, Mulla Muhsin Jaffer, illustrated the globalisation of Tableegh work undertaken by the WF-IEB dealing with Shias as far as Japan and Korea.

CETAB Chairman, Al Haj Murtaza Datoo highlighted the activities of the Board particularly during the term that had been declared the term of Education.

In a double act, Shafiq Govani and Zeeshan Kanji, the two able deputies of Al Haj Mohamed Visram, the Chairman of ZCSS, enlightened the Councillors with facts, figures and pictures of the ever popular ZCSS. The presentation was done with clarity of thought and precision of expression.

Dr Abbas Moledina, on behalf of the Chairman of MAB, Dr M T I Walji, presented a report on the activities carried out by the Medical Advisory Board during the last three months.

MAB Convention – Sunday 20^th May 2001

The New York community welcomed with all the warmth and fervour which she accords to the healthcare professionals, community workers and volunteers who attended the convention. In an atmosphere of disciplined tempo, the convenor of the convention, Dr Akber Mithani officially began the proceedings of the convention and handed over the Chairmanship to Dr Abbas Moledina.

All the speakers presented the papers with eloquence detailing issues of health affecting the community. The attentive participants not only found it beneficial, but were also taken aback by the sheer breadth of the information contained in the presentations.

The workshops that followed after the presentations were fully subscribed with a lot of interactive exchanges on the healthcare issues affecting the community. The President of the World Federation, Dr Hasnain Walji, made a passionate call to community organisations in North America and their leaders to adopt the recommendations presented therein. This is now a priority for the healthcare professionals of our communities and the responsibility now rests upon the Jamaats and regional bodies world wide but specially in USA and Canada to mobilise their resources.