Shia Muslim Foundation and Idara-e-Jaferia Host Landmark Community Safety and Security Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, Maryland Governor's Office of Homeland Security, and Montgomery County Police Department Join Shia Muslim Community to Address Safety, Build Partnerships, and Advance Federal Security Resources

BURTONSVILLE, MD — The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) and Idara-e-Jaferia Islamic Center recently co-hosted their inaugural Community Safety and Security Summit in Burtonsville, Maryland, bringing together federal elected officials, state homeland security leadership, county law enforcement, and members of the Shia Muslim community in a historic gathering focused on the safety and security of one of America's most underserved religious minorities.

The Summit drew community members from across the region for an afternoon of substantive dialogue, actionable information, and renewed commitment from government partners at every level. SMF Executive Director Rahat Husain called the event a defining moment for both organizations. "Today's Summit is the direct result of months of sustained advocacy and relationship-building," said Husain. "We are proud to have brought these leaders together in our community's home, and we are more resolved than ever to ensure that Shia Muslims in America have the protection and resources they deserve."

Dr. Ghulam Abbas, President of Idara-e-Jaferia, echoed that sentiment. "For decades, this community has gathered within these walls to worship, to grieve, and to celebrate," said Dr. Abbas. "It is only right that we also gather here to demand what every community deserves: safety, dignity, and the full protection of our government. This Summit was a step toward that, and Idara-e-Jaferia is proud to stand alongside the Shia Muslim Foundation in this work."

Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth delivered keynote remarks reiterating her strong and unequivocal support for the Shia Muslim community, affirming her commitment to ensuring that religious minorities in Maryland have access to the federal protections and resources they need. SMF is grateful for the Congresswoman's continued engagement and her willingness to show up not just in Washington, but here, in the community itself.

Marcia Deppen, Interim Director of the Maryland Governor's Office of Homeland Security, provided attendees with a detailed overview of the security resources available to religious institutions and community organizations across Maryland, offering practical guidance on how Shia Muslim centers can access state-level support. Director Deppen's remarks were among the most immediately useful of the afternoon, and her presence reflected the deepening partnership between SMF and the State of Maryland that has developed over recent months, including her designation as SMF's dedicated state point of contact and SMF's integration into Maryland's statewide security coordination meetings.

Commander Jason Cokinos of the Montgomery County Police Department's 3rd District brought a perspective rooted in years of direct engagement with the Idara-e-Jaferia community. Commander Cokinos has developed a longstanding working relationship with the mosque and its leadership, and his remarks at the Summit reflected that trust and familiarity. SMF thanks Commander Cokinos for his continued dedication to building genuine, sustained ties between law enforcement and the Shia Muslim community in Montgomery County.

The Summit is the culmination of an intensive period of government engagement by SMF, which has in recent months met with the offices of Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Congresswoman Elfreth, the Maryland Governor's Office of Homeland Security, and MCPD. SMF has documented a growing pattern of threats and attacks against Shia Muslim institutions across the United States and has pressed officials at every level to respond with commensurate resources, including access to the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program, interagency coordination between the FBI and DHS, and dedicated law enforcement liaisons to Shia Muslim centers.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to civic advocacy, legal representation, and community safety for Shia Muslims in the United States. SMF works to build durable partnerships between Shia Muslim communities and government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels. For more information, visit shiamuslimfoundation.com.

About Idara-e-Jaferia

Idara-e-Jaferia Islamic Center is one of the largest and most prominent Shia Muslim institutions on the East Coast, serving the spiritual, educational, and civic needs of the Shia Muslim community in Maryland and the greater Washington, D.C. region for decades.

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