AMIPI

The Responsibility of the American Muslims at this Historic Moment:
Posted by Admin on March 26 2008 20:07:00

In the name of God: the Most Gracious, Most Merciful !

A group of visionary American Muslim leaders came together in Washington DC on July 11 of 2007 to discuss some of the burning issues involving the Muslim world and America in our time: American involvement in Iraq, the events after 9-11 and the ensuing consequences, growing sectarian conflicts, extremism and terrorism in the world, the growing confrontational relationship between the Muslim world and the Western world, the instability, violence and the socio-economic degradation in many Muslim countries and -- above all-- what these group of leaders can do to help bring about a positive change. To pursue transformation they decided to form a coalition called the American Muslim Iraq Peace Initiative [AMIPI]. Many individuals and their respective organizations became part of this coalition leaving the door open for others to join as time and events progresses, God willing.

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In the name of God: the Most Gracious, Most Merciful !

The Responsibility of the American Muslims at this Historic Moment:

A group of visionary American Muslim leaders came together in Washington DC on July 11 of 2007 to discuss some of the burning issues involving the Muslim world and America in our time: American involvement in Iraq, the events after 9-11 and the ensuing consequences, growing sectarian conflicts, extremism and terrorism in the world, the growing confrontational relationship between the Muslim world and the Western world, the instability, violence and the socio-economic degradation in many Muslim countries and -- above all-- what these group of leaders can do to help bring about a positive change. To pursue transformation they decided to form a coalition called the American Muslim Iraq Peace Initiative [AMIPI]. Many individuals and their respective organizations became part of this coalition leaving the door open for others to join as time and events progresses, God willing.

All the critical problems regarding the Muslim world galvanized and manifested in the extreme degrees in Iraq: the sectarian and ethnic conflict, a Western involvement, a dysfunctional state of a resourceful nation, contributing to the volatility of the region, the propensity of degradation and decay, difficult past blocking the vision of the future, failing to share power to achieve mutual interests, failing to institute a broad and neutral due process to help integrate the fragmented society, etc..

The Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR], a civil liberties and advocacy group for Muslims in North America, has been endeavoring since November of 2006 to take such an initiative for Iraq. One of its founders Nihad Awad has been pursuing to get involved with Iraq in offering a diplomatic initiative on behalf of CAIR. These ideas and agendas have been laid down in some of the papers found in this website under the category of “CAIR Initiatives” before July 11.

On the other hand one of the coalition members, Nurjahan Ruby Amatulla, whose writings have contributed to encourage the group to come together on 7-11-07 in DC has been working on a broader agenda for the American Muslims since 2002-2003. She believes that a leadership should emerge from among the American Muslims to involve most aggressively and most effectively on the international front where there has been a deficiency of Muslim leadership. This leadership could be critical in a period of time when the welfare and interest of both the USA [and the West] and the Muslim world are strangely and intricately tied with each other and with the success in Iraq.

She proclaims that there is an enormous legitimacy and potential of the American Muslims to be a key agent of conflict resolutions and peace in our time. She argues that they are the citizens and tax payers of the only superpower in our time. They are also a part of the Muslim “umma” of 1.3 billion followers which possesses almost 75% of the oil reserve of the world. The American Muslims are the common denominator of the two most dynamic and confronting components of humanity – the Muslim world and the Western world—and they are conversant with the mindset and cultures of both. She further argues that their context, their extra-ordinary predisposition and the world events, all make them one of the best citizens’ group who can offer a leadership of constructive engagements, mediation, consultation, participation, reconciliation and cooperation in promoting stability, mutual welfare, peace and progress in the most difficult regions of the Muslim world. And thus help countless people get out of misery and hopelessness of their present situation. Her work and writings can be found in this website under “Ruby’s Advocacy” as well as in the website: www.peace-justice-international.org

She sees that America is a very changeable nation: it is the most open, pluralistic, self-critical and self-correcting nation in the world. Its 230 years of history is a testament to that change. However, she points out that the idea of change is most effective if suggested through constructive engagements. She appeals to the Muslims to see America not only through its failures but also through its enormous success in establishing a due process promoting liberty, equality and dignity of the most diverse communities of the world. Iraq is a preoccupation of this nation. And Iraq, if successful, could become the catalyst of change in pulling the Muslim world out of its present degrading and dangerous situation. America is the superpower in our time and one of the most influential nations. Therefore this is a profound responsibility on the shoulder of the American Muslims to help transform difficult and dangerous situation and a rare opportunity to serve humanity on such a scale.

The AMIPI Objectives:

1. To offer a diplomatic solution for Iraq and related regional conflicts in establishing stability and progress..
2. To establish the Islamic spirit and a conducive environment promoting cooperation and peaceful co-existence among the different groups and sects of Islam. To help establish a mindset of tolerance of diversity and a higher ‘code’ of conducts through which stability, mutual welfare, peace and progress can be achieved in the Muslim “umma’.
3. To promote a better understanding and a better agenda of interactions between the Muslim world and the West in general and the USA in particular. This would contribute towards mutual security and welfare enormously and usher a period of goodwill and trust most conducive for progress.
4. To help find a way for American military out of Iraq and thus help relieve America from this quagmire and exorbitantly expensive involvement.
5. To help find a way for Iraq in particular but the Muslim world in general to establish a balance of power and a neutral, accountable and broad due process of governance to help integrate a diverse and confronting groups within a nation.
6. To become instrumental in changing the ‘age old’ mindset among the American policy-makers towards the Muslim world and consequently in changing the modus operandi and policies.
7. Fighting against extremism and terrorism by invalidating and marginalizing them and their wrong ideas. This can best be achieved by offering a better way to fight against wrongs and injustices of this world. The AMIPI is deeply committed to launch a struggle from the moral high grounds to advocate among Muslims to fight against violence and intolerance and to fight against wrongs in a non-violent but most effective way. If a better way of change can be demonstrated then extremism and terrorism could be invalidated and defeated.

The AMIPI Agendas

1. To get involved in the affairs of Iraq, on behalf of Americans, as a citizens’ activist group to offer a diplomatic way out of this quagmire and offer a better future for countless people. The AMIPI is planning to send a delegate to Iraq to assess the situation and to get involved with the Iraqi and the regional leadership.
2. To help set a conducive environment among the conflicting parties so that they see a hope of preserving their interests and welfare in working with us and others. This needs generating a dynamic and trust building process. This coalition is most suitable for that purpose because they are a non-governmental group with the least conflict of interest and they are a fresh group free from the old biases and negative mindsets. Most of all they are conversant with both the Muslim culture and the American mindsets.
3. To achieve the leverage and to figure out the right agenda the AMIPI is planning to embark on the following activities:
AA. Hosting two summits: One national to help build consensus and to help consolidate the American Muslim leadership for this great undertaking. The other summit is among the leaders and thinkers of Iraq and the region to help catapult an aggressive agenda of a diplomatic initiative promoting participation, reconciliation and cooperation.
BB. Intensely engaging with the American policy-makers to chart a creative and forceful course of actions logistically and politically viable. There are plans to organize and attend a series of the Senate and Congress hearings, involvement with many key Senators, Congressmen & women, and the State Department.
CC. Creating a national presence by bringing the ideas before the American public using the media and the grass-root efforts.

The Steps Already Taken:

The “Muslim Code of Honor”
The “Muslim Code of Honor” was written and unanimously approved and endorsed by the members of AMIPI on July 11, 2007. An agenda was undertaken to promote these “Codes”. There were celebrations for this achievement at the last ISNA convention [a major Muslim event in the North America] and other places. This document --propagating tolerance and mutual respect—is widely circulated among the Muslim communities across America and can be found hanging on the wall of mosques, schools, offices and homes of many Muslims.

Meeting and discussion with some Key Senators: Joe Biden [D], Chuck Grassley[R]. Norm Coleman [R] and Sam Brownback
On the other hand the coalition [AMIPI] also took the resolution to pursue on the political front here in this country as well as in Iraq. A political task force has been created to launch some key programs of engagements. Already the group has met some key Senators: Grassley of Iowa, Joe Biden and Norm Coleman of Foreign Relations Committee, and Sam Brownback of the Republican party. All of these Senators and their aides have shown enthusiasm and offered cooperation for such Muslim initiative for peace in Iraq. See more in “Meeting Senators”. We also are in close contact with the Muslim Congressman, Keith Ellison, who is very supportive of such pioneering initiative.