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

4th Executive Council Meeting
Press Release

The fourth Executive Council meeting of the World Federation was held on 3 October 1998 in the city of Peterborough, United Kingdom. In 1972, this city welcomed our community members when they first arrived from Uganda as refugees. Our first mosque was soon built there and today, 26 years later; it has a multifarious centre built around it. This vibrant community responded warmly with all the arrangements to show their hospitality when they welcomed the participants for the meeting.

The meeting was well represented with Councillors from North America, Dubai and Europe in attendance. Nasimco representatives were led by Haji Gulam Abbas Sajan -the President of Nasimco. He was accompanied by the Vice President Haji Gulamabbas A Khakoo of Los Angeles and Haji Mohamed Khaku, President of Allentown Jamaat. Councillor Haji Mustafa Jaffer of New York and Haji Masum Somji of Dubai also attended. Karachi Jamaat was represented by Haji Mohammed Jaffer KG. Overseas visitors were Dr Sultan Aly from Australia and Haji Sultanbhai Govani from Sweden.


QUARTERLY REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT


In his report, the President of the World Federation Alhaj Mulla Asgharali M M Jaffer infornled the council of the tragic development taking place in Iraq, especially against the Maraaje'. Amongst the well-known personalities who were martyred recently are Ayatullah Sheikh Murtaza Burujardi and Ayatullah Mirza Ali Gharavi. All present at the meeting were requested to recite Surae Fateha and pray for the well being of our Marja' Ayatullah Syed Ali Seestani.

While on the subject, the President also reported on the continuing atrocities carried out against Shia brothers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The World Federation has raised voice of protest by writing to the relevant authorities.

The President informed the councillors about his visit to New York and Washington. While in New York, the families of Haji Mustafa Jaffer generously donated US Dollars one hundred thousand towards religious publication work and a further US Dollars two hundred thousand for the special purpose of assisting anyone needy community in India in its entirety. This way, the community will be given a real and helpful break out of its misery .The President gave an example of Avalkonda in Andhra Pradesh where the World Federation has carried out this type of work.

The families of Haji Mustafa Jaffer were generous enough to offer a block of offices in New York, free of rentals for use as a branch of Dar al tabligh that will act as a liaison link between

IEB Nasimco and IEB World Federation. On behalf of the World Federation, the President thanked the families ofHaji Mustafa Jaffer for their generosity and magnanimity.

The President once again reminded the Executive Council that the term 1997 -2000 is devoted to Islamic Education Board and appealed for funding for Tableegh.


RAPROACHMENT WITH AFRICA FEDERATION


The President explained to the Council that this item was added to the agenda at the request of Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat of Karachi. Re read out a letter from the Ron. Secretary of Karachi Jamaat in which a request is made to include this item in order to " review the attitude of non co-operation adopted by the Africa Federation and discuss the removal of misunderstanding/ dispute. "


He then requested the Secretary General to read a letter from the President of Karachi Jamaat that had arrived at the Secretariat a day earlier in which Dostbhai Bhojani informs the President of the World Federation that despite persuasion and insistence, the chairman of Africa Federation showed unwillingness to participate, thus making it difficult to resolve the issue. In his letter, he also presents a proposal for setting up of a task force for reconciliation.


The President of the World Federation began by explaining to the attentive audience who numbered nearly 80 Councillors and Observers that ever since Africa Federation took a stand of non participation, the Office Bearers of the World Federation made serious efforts to see that this very sad and unhappy episode of our strained relationship is reconciled in the most amicable and dignified manner .


In the face of unfair accusations and biased reportings, the World Federation had maintained dignified silence. Our silence, he emphasized, was in the interest of greater good of the community and now, the time has come for this Executive Council to know of the efforts so far made by the Office Bearers. He invited the Secretary General of the World Federation Dr Sibtain Panjwani to present the report on the rapprochement with Africa Federation.


The Secretary General began by reminding the Council of the observation made by the President of the World Federation at the last Triennial Conference held on 17th October 1997 at Stanmore, London, on the absence of Africa Federation at the Conference which is as follows:
" The absence of Africa Federation tonight is very conspicuous and has been referred to by no other than the most respected person in our hierarchy Janab Haji Ahmedbhai Bhalloo. I wish to assure him and you all that I feel very sad about their absence. I am not at all happy to see that they are not with us. Having lived in a civilized atmosphere, I am more inclined to dialogue than confrontation. I want to assure you all, that we will carry out the dialogue to see that our brothers from Africa Federation are back in our fold. This is because Unity is our life as Dostbhai Bhojani -the President of Karachi Jamaat has said through Yasinbhai Gheewala. Without unity, there is no Federation and Africa Federation is looked upon as one of the most respected and important part of the World Federation."

Soon after these words had been uttered by the President at the Conference, the World Federation received a circular no JMT/117/97 dated 17th October 1997 from Africa Federation. Stripped to its essentials, it consisted of the claim that Africa Federation considers the amendment to the World Federation Constitution adopted at the Extra Ordinary Conference of 7dt June 1997 as unconstitutional.

 

This was the Conference, he reminded the Council, where all members including Africa Federation had deliberated and voted according to the provisions provided in the constitution. Members present in that Conference exercised their right of voting and the result was the deletion of clause 20.1 by majority of 83%. Delegates from Africa Federation had voted against the deletion.

By claiming that the decision of the Conference was unconstitutional, Africa Federation by implication challenged the validity of the 1997 World Federation elections, thus putting a doubt on the status of the present Office Bearers of the World Federation and together with them the status of the Executive Councillors.


Prior to this claim, the Secretary General emphasized, the World Federation continuously expended efforts towards ameliorating the difficult situation existing between the World Federation and Africa Federation. But now, the difficulties were compounded by this stand of Africa Federation. This meant that for dialogue to begin, Africa Federation first had to decide on the status of the present elected and appointed officials of the World Federation.


He explained that for the Office Bearers of the World Federation, this was a reasonable expectation because in the absence of their confirmation of the status, they could not represent the World Federation in any capacity.


This was the issue before the Office Bearers and in time proved as difficult as the decision by Africa Federation not to send or nominate councillors from their Federation to attend Executive Council Meetings.


For the next 8 months and with measured optimism, the Office Bearers carried on with the business of running the World Federation as usual hoping that good sense will prevail. Instead, the World Federation was volleyed with issues of the Federation Samachar, which portrayed a perpetual impression of crisis between Africa Federation and World Federation.


As the dust began to settle, the Office Bearers took all the opportunities of conveying to the Chainnan of Africa Federation its reasonable expectation that the status of the Office Bearers and together with them the status of the Executive Council has got to be decided.


The Office Bearers informed the Honorary Secretary of Africa Federation that this is not an unreasonable demand and to make his task easier it was conveyed to him that a letter on any subject from Africa Federation addressed to either the President of the World Federation or Secretary General in their respective capacities would be considered by them as implying recognition.


On 22nd of June 1998, the Secretary General contacted the Vice Chairman of Africa Federation by telephone. On June 2Sth 1998, a fax letter duly arrived at our Secretariat from the Hon. Secretary of Africa Federation. In this letter, the Ron. Secretary on behalf of the Office Bearers confirmed and welcomes the forthcoming visit to Dar es Salaam of the Secretary General of the World Federation. It also confirmed the purpose of his visit, which was to resolve the deadlock existing between the World Federation and Africa Federation.

After considering in its entirety all the issues raised by Africa Federation in their circular of l7th October 1997, the Office Bearers of the World Federation decided to convey a proposal to the office bearers of Africa Federation. The Secretary General made a special visit to Dar es Salaam from 5th to 9th July 1998 for the purpose of normalising the relationship and to convey the proposal from the Office Bearers of the World Federation to the Office Bearers of Africa Federation.

The Vice Chairman of Africa Federation and the Secretary General met for almost 3 days from Monday 6d1 of July when the Secretary General first conveyed the proposal from the Office Bearers of the World Federation. He put it to Haji Mohammed Pirbhai that almost one year has passed since Africa Federation's stand against the Conference decision of 7d1 June 1997. This status quo cannot be good for either Africa Federation or World Federation.


To move from this situation, he explained that both Federations must normalise relations for there should not be any problem now. To begin this process, he put to the Vice Chairman of Africa Federation a proposal from the Office Bearers of the World Federation and that is "the President of the World Federation will visit Dar es Salaam to meet with you all. He will apologise for the hurt feelings caused during 7th of June Extra Ordinary Conference and this will be the end of the matter ."


The Vice Chairman assured the Secretary General that he will convey the proposal officially for discussion at their Office Bearers meeting to be held on 14th July 1998.


On 9th June 1998, the Office Bearers of Africa Federation welcomed the Secretary General of the World Federation at their specially convened meeting held at their offices in Dar es Salaam.


Back in London, the Secretary General received a letter dated 25th August by post from Africa Federation in which the proposal from the Office Bearers of the World Federation is quoted together with Africa Federations response that they would like to discuss the following principal concerns with the World Federation:

1. Members right to demand voting by secret ballot
2. " Bonafide" residents -eligibility of order
3. Dis-respect shown on point of order
4. Over-riding the Conference's previous decision


This was where the matter stood before the meeting of the Executive Council. The Secretary General concluded that as a result of this very important initiative undertaken, the Office Bearers of the World Federation believe that Africa Federation has moved its position in that Africa Federation now accepts the decision made by the Extra Ordinary Conference of 7th June 1998. This is a happy indication for all of the members of the World Federation.


At issue for Africa Federation now are its four principal concerns, which pertain wholly to the constitution of the World Federation. Re was pleased to inform the Council that as a result of this initiative, the official communications are now open and indicated to the Council that only recently he had twice conversed by telephone with the Ron Secretary of Africa Federation. Finally, he assured the council that during all this time and now, the Secretariat of the World Federation have kept open all services to Africa Federation and took active steps to see that the community in Africa does not suffer in any way.

 

After submission of the Secretary General, the Councillors debated the report in an atmosphere of constructive positivity. Queries arising from the report were clarified by both the President of the World Federation and the Secretary General. On the issue of appointing a task force, which was the proposal from Karachi Jamaat, the President explained that the Executive Council being one of the parties to the disagreement cannot appoint a sub committee or someone to investigate and arbitrate on the dispute.

He then dealt with each of the four principal concerns of Africa Federation responding in detail and assuring the Executive Council that Africa Federation's right have not been infringed nor its dignity insulted. He is, nevertheless, willing to apologise if his words have hurt the feelings of the delegates from Africa Federation. He further stressed that these points which relate to decisions by the Conference or Executive Council cannot be the basis for negotiations with the Office Bearers. Instead, Africa Federation, as a member of the World Federation should come to the Executive Council to present their case to members of the World Federation. He will, therefore, invite Africa Federation to attend the next Executive Council of the World Federation.

With calm determination and reasoned approach, Councillors deliberated further on the issue and expressed confidence on the stand taken by the Office Bearers of the World Federation and approved of the efforts taken by the Secretariat. In the end, the Executive Council unanimously passed the following resolution:


" Whereas the continued efforts of Alhaj Sibtainbhai Panjwani, the Secretary General of the World Federation and Alhaj Mohammedbhai Pirbhai, the Vice Chairman of Africa Federation are enabling and facilitating the process of reconciliation between World Federation and Africa Federation are applauded. Be it resolved that there is unequivocal confidence in the approach adopted by the Secretariat."


HAJ  MEDICAL MISSION


The Chairman of Medical Advisory Board Dr Mohamed Taki I Walji informed the Council that recently many Shia Organisations have approached MAB to restart this mission. In view of these requests, he conducted a very basic survey, which indicated to the Board that a detailed survey on the spot is necessary to ascertain the scope and extent of the mission. He will report the finding to the Executive Council.


HIV / AIDS AND THALLASAEMIA


After a detailed report from the Chairman of MAB Dr Mohamed Taki I Walji, the Executive Council passed the following resolution by majority:
" In view of increasing number of cases of HIV & Aids and increasing number of children born with Thalassaemia Major in our community world wide, it is resolved that all member Jamaats and Federations require proposed bride and groom to produce evidence of each of them being free of HIV & AIDS virus and that both are not Thalassaemia carriers. Members should establish necessary modality for implementation before Nikah is recited.
MAB will issue detailed guideline for implementation."

GUJARAT HOUSING

The President reported that the project of constructing houses for the needy in Gujarat is nearlyover. The final 72 flats, named Haji Naji Complex will soon be ready in Bhavnagar. 4 families displaced from Nawlakhi are being rehoused in Bhuj, Kutch.
Construction of houses for Sadats is however continuing. Construction of a new block has started in Mahuva.


COMMUNITY PROJECTS


Haji Nazirbhai Virji, President of Peterborough Jamaat, proposed the construction of a Sports Complex in Peterborough to cater for the requirements of the community.


Haji Mohamed Khaku, President of Allentown Jamaat, briefed the Council of their new project to cater for the needs of the Community.


Haji Mohamed Khaku briefed the Council about the Visa Lotteries for entry into USA.


Haji Jaffer Dharamsi infomled the Council that 20 December 1998 would be the first of the Month of Ramadhan 1419 and January 19 1999 will be the day of Bid, giving 30 days of Fasts. He requested Leaders to aquaint themselves of the Masaels especially the new one from Ayatullah Seestani, so as to avoid the problems of last year.

 

Secretariat
8 October 1998
17 Jarnad al Thani 1419

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