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.