Earlier this spring, KARAMAH held the Muslim Women Leaders and Scholars Summit in Washington, D.C. The summit was convened in order to discuss pressing issues facing the Muslim community in America. The participants of the D.C. Summit were grass roots community leaders and Islamic scholars. They included leaders from the legal, educational, mental health, social services, and governmental fields as well as other disciplines and backgrounds. After intense deliberations, and through Shura, the process of consensus, the participants agreed upon the following priorities that need to be addressed collaboratively for the betterment of our communities and the country:
1. Strengthening institutional structures that promote inclusive, healthy cultures based on collaboration and mutual respect.
2. Protecting and improving the health and wellness of our communities by reexamining the physical and mental ills that afflict us and addressing the stigmas surrounding certain issues.
3. Advocating for transformative justice which includes our basic civil rights, racial equality, gender equity and justice in all areas of human rights affecting our communities
4. Strengthening community relations and enhancing inter- and intra-faith relations
5. Enhancing Islamic literacy by educating ourselves about Islam and ensuring that the institutions from which we seek knowledge are held to a high standards.
The participants in the DC summit re-affirmed their commitment to equity and justice, and their belief in education as transformation, and in faith as a constructive force in society. The DC summit leaders and scholars invite community members to join in this historic task. Find the D.C. Summit Statement of priorities here