5th Executive Council Meeting
Press Release

On Saturday 6th March 1999, Councillors from many parts of the World gathered at Hujjat Imambada, Stanmore, London to transact the proceedings of 5th Executive Council meeting of the World Federation.

Stanmore venue changed from Birmingham, at a short notice, was chosen so as to allow the President of the World Federation, who was arriving from Dar es salaam the same day, to attend the meeting.

The meeting was well attended with representatives of Jamaats from United Kingdom, Paris, Karachi and New Zealand. Nasimco was represented by its President Haji Gulam Sajan and Councillor Sadiq Jaffer.

The President of the World Federation, Alhaj Mulla Asgerali M M Jaffer welcomed one and all to the meeting and thanked the councillors for their time, personal sacrifices and services rendered to the community .He personally thanked the management committee's of both Birmingham and London Jamaats for being understanding and accommodating to the change of venue.

The President began his report by conveying the salaams from the Marja Ayatullah Seestani. By the grace of Allah s w a, he enjoys good health. He cautioned the councillors that the prevailing situation in Iraq is not helpful to our religious scholars as they have to carry out religious obligations under considerable constraints imposed by the Iraqi government. With deep regret, the President once again had to infonn the house of the assassination of Ayatullah Mohammed Sadik-AI-Sadr and his two sons in Iraq. He was a deeply sincere man who assisted many fellow Iraqis out of their troubles. Courageously, he encouraged Juma prayers to be established in Iraq through which many young Iraqis are now coming back to the fold of religion.

The President then paid glowing tributes to Marhum Haji Ali Haji Mohamedjaffer Sheriff, Marhum Haji Huseinbhai Haji and Marhum Jafferali Asil enumerating their diverse services.

On a happier note, the Council learnt of the successful election of Haji Jaffer Dharamsi as the President of the Council of European Jamaats. On behalf of the World Federation, the President of the World Federation congratulated and welcomed him to the meeting and expressed his hope that Council of European Jamaats will work in close liaison with the World Federation to fulfil the needs of Europe.

VISIT TO NORTH AMERICA

The President explained that on his visit to North America in October 1998, he was able to observe closely the functioning of many Jamaats in North America. He expressed his desire to make our community a friendly and wholesome place in which to live and bring up our children. He was particularly pleased to have had the opportunity to open the madressa building at Minneapolis. The World Federation congratulates the Anjumane Asghari -Minnesota, Minneapolis for the completion of this worthwhile project that will provide a firm Islamic foundation for the children of our community .

TRIP TO DAR ES SALAAM

The President of the World Federation travelled to Dar es salaam on rd of March 1999 to meet with the Chairman of Africa Federation to discuss and resolve the differences between the two organisations. He was happy to report that the differences are now resolved amicably. The Chairman of Africa Federation was invited to attend this meeting but due to short notice and his recent operation, he was unable to attend. Africa federation is holding its Supreme Council meeting at Easter in Zanzibar. The President informed the Council that he is invited to attend.

At the request of Councillor Sadiq Jaffer, the President read out the communique on the meeting in Dar es salaam issued by the Africa F ederation. The President of the World F ederation thanked one and all who assisted in the process of reconciliation.

GOVANDI AND PATNA

In a moving report, Dr Mohammedtaki Walji -the Chairman of Medical Advisory Board- presented the account of the real benefit of our primary health project to the down trodden community in Govandi.

Govandi, he informed the Council, is one of the largest slum in the city of Mumbai. The slum has a population which varies from 3-500,000 people of which Shia population is about 25,000, majority of them being Sadaat. The World Federation works in the area of Baiganwadi where there are 2000 Shia houses with nearly 10,000 people.

Soon after the survey, the World Federation embarked upon a revolutionary project of preventive health promotion where the disease is alleviated by educating the community on how to avoid or prevent health misery , there by making the community self reliant. Our work strives to provide essential preventive services such as health education to every patient who attend the clinic, immunisation to every child within our area, diet supplements, cheap and subsidised medicines, family planning services and diagnostic and treatment services by a medical doctor with referrals to hospital, if necessary .   More particularly, we are running a nursery school to prepare children to enable them to obtain a place in government school.

After nearly 10 years of our services, while no grand buildings of the World Federation are to be seen in Govandi, we can point to the enduring changes brought about within the local Shia community .To-day, all mothers in Baiganwadi know of the immunisation they and their children need. They also know of the treatment of common diseases like diarrhoea and vomiting. They know the value of cleanliness. These are the changes among many that has made the community self reliant in health care and as result the need for our health care project is now over.

A poor and relatively inaccessible state of Bihar has a large population of Muslims. Patna, the capital city, has 10,000 Shias. 95% of them live in abject poverty .In the heart of this poverty where diseases and deprivations are rife, the World Federation has opened the preventive health clinic, similar to the one in Govandi. Ours is the only agency working there providing a much needed health care support to the community .

CENTRALISATION OF PROJECTS

The President of the World Federation explained that this subject was put in the agenda in order to remove the misunderstanding existing within the membership regarding the workings of the World Federation to carry out its project. He emphasised that the World Federation, being the World body, should be able to carry out the activities without the constraints from its members. The President clarified that the World Federation is not seeking confrontation but co-operation from its members who after all are the beneficiaries. He informed the council that the World Federation is seeking to embark upon beneficial projects within our own community and will look for support and keen sense of participation from the members of the World Federation. He reminded the council that members should not toll the bell of" 'Geographical Boundary' and 'Sovereignty' which are unhelpful concepts when we are all working for the future of our community at large.