The Council Of European Jamaats

• Continue to support and work with various members of the council and other Jamaats and regional bodies world wide including arrangement of speakers for majalis. All Alim /Zakirs on our Data Base were circularised to check availability for Muharram and all members Jamaats were sent Questionnaire form to check their requirements for this year. Enquiries for Muharram, Ashre Zainabiya and other majalises received this year included arrangements for.

Jamaats are requested to continue to provide data relating to Muharram and Ramadhan arrangements when requested by I.C.A to enable the committee serve you better.

• The Alim Zakir Directory updated is in progress. The secretariat has been requested to assist in verifying the data about alims/dhakirs.
• Work on Alim contract and terms of reference has been completed and has been published on the COEJ website. The full job pack was also published on W.F News Wire.  Full job pack was sent on request to Stanmore jamaat and Derby Shia organisation.
• We are part of IEB of World Federation committee involved in reviewing Alim grant and give input of COEJ member’s perspective. Two member Jamaats were reminded relating to o/s forms before deadline.
• We attended IEB reception and meeting with Agha Kashmire, Wakil of Agha Seestani as well as a separate meeting with Dr Mohsin Naqavi.
• We are looking to support national conference for our youths to be held in Peterborough.  COEJ will give part of the Funding required.
• An introduction to Islam leaflets (Al-Islam) was a lunched in December 2005. Copies of this were distributed to all members of Jamaats and this was also published in the world Federation news wire. Positive response has been received including request for copies from Toronto and Saudi Arabia. As informed the last meeting experienced ICA members are available to support open mosque day in other Jamaats. These leaflets are ideal for such open days.
• Alim retreat this year was organised by IEB of World federation in September where a number of important issues like Tableegh , Marjaiyat and Moon sighting were discussed .According I.C.A did  not organise this annual event to avoid duplication.
• Mosque and Imams Advisory Board ( MINAB) . The UK Government has come up with a new initiative in promotion of this board. ICA representing COEJ has attended some of the meeting and report from senior member of ICA committee Mulla Mohamed Kasamali attached herewith.
• Projects that are being looked at next or in progress and require financial resources include: -
  

         A    Khums calculator booklet/leaflet
         B    Reply to anti shia propaganda leaflet for youths.
         C    Ehkame Mayat booklet & video

• Members jamaats are invited to give their feedback on any other issues or prospects that they wish this committee to consider.
  
  May Allah (swt) grant us tawfeeq to do our utmost for our beloved faith Islam.
  
  

Razahusein Rahim

Herewith is a brief report of the 2 meetings I attended on matters related to Mosque and Imams National Advisory Board ( MINAB.) This is a group that covers training of the Imams and their accreditation and the role of the mosques as a role for the whole community.
 
The first meeting was held at the AHLUL-BAIT ISLAMIC MISSION, London and hosted by Sayyid Fadhil Bahrul Uloom. The meeting was held on Saturday 20th May,2006. The meeting was attended by representatives from about 12 Shia organisations. Missing in this meeting were the representatives of the Iranian organisations based in UK.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the role of the Shia organisations after the latest development at the last meeting of MINAB especially the resignation of Lord Nazir Ahmed.
The discussion concentrated on the progress of MINAB so far. It was reported that Lord Nazir Ahmed, who was appointed by the Government to chair the committee resigned. No definite reasons were given for his resignation. After his resignation, the representatives of four organisation - the Muslim Council of Britain, the Muslim British Forum, the Muslim Association of Britain and Al Khoei Foundation - decided to continue with the MINAB and informed the Government that they do not require any financial assistance or representation from them. (It is still a mystery (at least to me) as to how these four organisations were chosen by the Government in the first instance).

Queries and questions raised were answered by Sayyid Yousuf Al-Khoei, who has been attended the meeting on behalf of the Al-Khoei foundation. Very recently, Sayyid Fadhil Milani has also attended meeting as the 2nd representative.

After long discussion, which began at about 6.15pm, it was decided to hold the next meeting on Saturday 27th May, 2006 at 6.00pm Dar-al-Tabligh, Jackets Lane.
 
The 2nd meeting was held as scheduled and was well represented by many Shia organisations including the Shia Iranian organisations in UK. The meeting was chaired by Al Haj Azad Kanani, the Hon. Treasurer of the W.F. of K.S.I.Muslim Communities. COEJ was represented by its Vice-President. Al Haj Dr. Husein Jiwa.

The set agenda was followed. Discussions were limited to the agenda and was well controlled by the Chair.

The conclusion at this meeting was the formation of Shia Advisory Council consisting of one representative from each organisation present at this meeting. A resolution was passed and signed by the representative of each organisation present.

MAJLIS AL ULAMA agreed to hold the next meeting at Birmingham on 10th or 11th June,2006. The discussion would be on the mechanism of this council.

 With salaams and Iltemase du'a,        Muhammad Kassamali.