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(WASHINGTON DC - September 30, 2022) The Shia Muslim Foundation is deeply concerned about the increasing number of immigration hurdles facing visiting Imams who are invited to conduct religious services for the Shia community in the United States. These Imams, who come from countries such as the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe, play a vital role in the religious practices of the Shia community and their ability to enter the country without delay or harassment is essential to the freedom of Shia Muslims to practice their religion.


Over the past few years, the Shia Muslim Foundation has witnessed a growing trend of visas being denied or delayed without explanation, and instances of harassment and intimidation at airports upon arrival. This is a disturbing development that threatens the ability of the Shia community to access the religious leaders and scholars they rely on for spiritual guidance and support.


In light of these issues, the Shia Muslim Foundation calls on the administration to take immediate action to address this situation and ensure that visiting Imams are able to enter the United States without interference or obstruction. We request a meeting with the appropriate officials to discuss the best way to resolve this matter and protect the religious freedom of Shia Muslims in the United States.

(WASHINGTON DC - August 12, 2022) On Friday, August 12, 2022, a Unity March Against Anti-Shia Hate was held in Albuquerque, NM to condemn the recent killings of four Muslim men in the city and to stand in solidarity with the Muslim community.


The march featured a speech and prayers by Sayyid Baqir Kashmiri, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Sistani, and was attended by members of the Muslim community. Participants held signs and banners expressing their solidarity with the victims and their families, and called for an end to hate and violence against the Shia Muslim community.


We stand united in condemning all forms of hate and violence against the Shia Muslim community and call on authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into these crimes. We also urge the community to come together in solidarity and support one another during this difficult time.


The Unity March was a powerful show of unity and solidarity, and we hope that it will serve as a reminder that hate and violence have no place in our society.

(WASHINGTON DC - August 10, 2021) At a press conference hosted by CAIR that was held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, Rahat Husain, representing the Shia Muslim Foundation, described the murders as acts of anti-Shia hatred and emphasized the "love and friendship" between Shia and Sunni Muslims in the United States. He emphasized the need to address any anti-Shia hatred and to work towards greater understanding and unity within the Muslim community.


On August 6, 2021, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) increased its reward for information leading to the perpetrator of the fourth murder, which occurred overnight on August 5, to $10,000. In response to the news that the main suspect is also Muslim, Sunnis and Shias in the United States are coming together to promote understanding and unity between the two communities.


Speaking at the press conference, Rahat Husain, with the Maryland-based Shia Muslim Foundation, described the murders as anti-Shia hatred.


He emphasised, however, the "love and friendship" between Shia and Sunni Muslims in the US that he described as a model and something that isn't always seen around the world. "We cannot let this incident or any other incident harm or destroy that love and that respect we have for one another,” said Husain. He added that any anti-Shia hatred needs to be addressed.


Imam Johari Abdulmalik, a member of the CAIR National Board, told The New Arab: "An attack on people, to murder people senselessly, just because their religious understanding is different than yours puts one under the purview that CAIR has an obligation to stand up and say to the community: We will not be divided with a capital W, meaning we as Americans, as citizens, as neighbours, as people of faith, and then what our faith, in particular, calls us to do, which is to say according to the Quran, that life is sacred, saying that if one takes the life of one person unjustly it is as if you had slain all of humanity."


The Shia Muslim Foundation stands united with the Muslim community in condemning all forms of hate and violence, and we call on all individuals and organizations to join us in condemning these crimes and working towards a world where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live in peace and harmony.

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