Jamaat al-Muslimeen International Press Release
Atlanta Rally in RainStorm Calls for
Unconditional Release of Imam Jamil
" O Prophet! Strive Hard Against the Rejectors and
the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their
abode
is Hell - an evil refuge indeed! "(The Qur'an 9:
73)
"Each one of you is a ruler and each one of you is
responsible for those you rule."
(Prophet
Muhammad,
pbuh,
Hadith
collected by Imam Bukhari)
Observers say that January 19, 2001 was probably the day which
started the momentum for the unconditional release of Imam Jamil
al-Amin. The
court room where Imam Jamil appeared (Atlanta's Fulton county Court )
was
packed with Muslims. The crowd overflowed into the corridor where a TV
monitor had been set up for those who could not find seats inside.
The oppressors were on the retreat. 1. The gag order on Imam
Jamil was
removed. 2. His right to pray with others in prison was reinstated. 3.
He can
now lead Juma' prayers. 4. The case hearing will begin in October 2001.
The Imam looked resplendent in his Islamic robe and head-dress as
he
praised Allah, the Creator of all peoples, and declared his innocence
in the
case.
At 12 noon a protest rally began across the street from the court
inspite of the steady downpour of rain.
None of the funded Muslim groups were there but independent
Islamic and
non-Muslim organizations were well represented.
May Allah reward the International Committee, led by Br.
Bilal
Sunni Ali, Br. Nadim Ali and Br. Khalil, for their coordination of
efforts
which created unity in diversity. (The P.A. system did not break down
inspite
of the storm.)
Br. Sunni Ali set the tone by pointing out that the downpour
of
rain should not discourage us, because our brothers in Palestine are
standing
in the rain of bullets (so the rain water is nothing).
Shaikh Abdus Sattar (from Iraq) and Sis. Umm Asma, his wife,
(representing Gulf Medical Relief Fund who were in Baghdad when the
bombs
were falling) stood together to call on the Muslims to rise up in
defense of
the oppressed, be they the children of Iraq or the political prisoners
of
America's tyranny.
Br. Altaf from the National Muslim Students association assured
Imam
Jamil of the support of the new generation of Muslim students.
Dr. Kaukab Siddique and Sis. Ashira Na'im denounced in thunderous
terms,
the entire history of murder and oppression which has run rampant in
America,
from slavery, the decimation of Indians, the murder of Crazy Horse,
down to
the assassinations of Dr. King and Malcolm X, the incarceration of
Geronimo
Pratt for 27 years, Br. Jihad Abdul Mumit's imprisonment for 22 years,
the
railroading of Shaikh Omar 'Abdel Rahman ,the arrest of Imam Jamil and
the
entire prison and injustice system.
(As the two spoke, a powerful rain squall roared down Pryor street
and
seemed to wash away the sins of Br. Kaukab, Sis. Ashira and Br. Sunni
Ali.
Br. Kaukab's umbrella broke like a twig and his placards were swept
away.)
Protests were also voiced by representatives of Mumia Jamal and
Leonard
Peltier as well as a group against the death penalty. In response, Br.
Kaukab
urged Muslims to oppose the death penalty because in a secular state
like
USA, where church and state are separate, and the government is not
based on
a concept of the Hereafter, there is NO LEGITIMACY FOR THE DEATH
PENALTY.
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JUMA' PRAYERS at GEORGIA TECH. The Muslim students of Georgia Tech
have
been very supportive of Imam Jamil's struggle. It was only fitting that
the
Juma Salat at the neat, progressive school heard support for Imam
Jamil. Imam
Muhammad Durra (originally from Ghana) (from Rishmond, Virginia) gave
an
upifting, spiritual khutba which he concluded with open support for the
cause
of Imam Jamil. He urged the listeners (including a good number of
sisters),
to remember that only our deeds of virtue, piety and obedience to
Allah's
teachings can help us when we reach the inevitable stage of death.
Following juma' ALL the worshippers stayed to listen to Dr. Kaukab
Siddique as he expounded from the Qur'an and the Hadith about struggle
against the oppressors. He linked the struggle of IMAM JAMIL al-AMIN
with
the struggle of SHAIKH OMAR 'ABDEL RAHMAN. He urged immigrant Muslims
to
realize that attempts to please the White House and Congress will not
fool
the oppressors. Those who want invitations to the White House are
playing
into the hands of the bloodsuckers of the Iraqi, Afghan, Chechen,
Kashmiri,
Sudanese people, he said. The oppressors, he gave examples to show,
want to
cut off the activists from the general ummah and then to enslave the
ummah in
a religion which is of the church-type: they want a Qur'an, he said, in
which
the Jihad verses are not recited.
Statements of support for the Imam also came from local MSA
leader
Br. Amer Basher, National MSA, Br. Altaf, and Br. Mansour Ansari,
well-known
in Atlanta.
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Atlanta's RADIO WRFG 89.3 FM, on it's NIGHT WATCH program from 11
pm to
midnight (on January 19), hosted by Br. Bilal Sunni Ali, had three
out-of-town guests: Br. Abdul Haqq from the December 12 movement (New
York),
Dr. Kaukab Siddique, international ameer of Jamaat al-Muslimeen, and
Sis.
Ashira Na'im, Secretary-General of Jamaat al-Muslimeen. All three
talked
about the ways and means to make the masses aware of the significance
of Imam
Jamil's struggle and the evil of the anti-people power structure of
USA. Br.
Kaukab emphasized Imam Jamil's anti-consumerism, his lifestyle which
frees
people from exploitation by the major corporations. Br. Abdul Haqq
emphasized
the need to get grassroots level support and to raise funds for the
movement.
Sis. Ashira emphasized the essential role of women in the
movement,
that there is no need to give the idea that there are only some issues
about
which women can speak. She urged people to give up their fear of the
oppressors. If Jihad Abdul Mumit and Imam Jamil al-Amin are not afraid,
why
should we be, she asked.
WHAT IS LEADERSHIP ALL ABOUT? Imam Jamil calls people to the
Qur'an
and the Sunnah, and not to himself, Br. Kaukab said, and that makes him
a
rallying point for all people who want virtue, decency and lack of ego
in
leadership.
Br. Abdul Haqq concluded that the role of youth and Imam Jamil's
insistence on the inclusion of youths in the movement is essential.
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END NOTES: On January 20, Jamaat al-Muslimeen representatives went to
Masjid
Omar, north of Atlanta, to distribute literature and found a very nice
dinner
in progress seemingly organized by the Salafi group.
ON JANUARY 21, Br. Kaukab spoke at Imam Jamil's Community masjid in the
West
End of Atlanta and called for unity of independent groups which are not
imposed by rich , outside forces. A close rapport based on spiritual
understanding and brotherhood seems to have developed between JAM reps
and
Imam Jamil's community.
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A FREE AUDIO TAPE of the INTERVIEW ON 89.3 FM is being made available
by
Jamaat al-Muslimeen. A donation will be welcome though not required.
Order
from Jamaat al-Muslimeen, POB 10881, Baltimore, MD 21234
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NEW TREND HONORED. 89.3 FM, Atlanta's community based, independent
radio
station, which can be heard in most of Georgia and parts of Alabama,
HAS BEEN
AIRING EXCERPTS FROM VARIOUS ISSUES OF NEW TREND MAGAZINE. The most
recent
issue of New Trend, which has Br. Jihad Abdul-Mumit on the front cover
and a
mind-bending editorial titled "THE $6 BILLION BUST IS OVER" about
Election
2000 has been distributed in communities across America. For a sample
copy
send $1 to: New Trend, POB 356, Kingsville, MD.
Excellent for wide distribution to awaken the people.
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Our web site: www.NewTrendMag.org
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2001-01-27 Sat 07:23ctct