ISCA -- Islamic Supreme Council of America

ISCA urges support for Workplace Religious Freedom Act
(Washington, DC - June 26, 2002) The Islamic Supreme Council of America, together with other religious and civil rights organizations, convened on Capitol Hill today with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), urging support for the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA). The bill is aimed at ensuring that people of all faiths will be protected from discrimination in the workplace

The Future of US-Saudi Relations; House Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee meeting held last week
(ISCA Update - 05/28/02) In a landmark hearing last Wednesday, the House Committee on International Relations heard testimony on the future of US-Saudi relations. Once considered a "taboo" subject in Washington circles, Representatives and private citizens testified about the need to re-evaluate the relationship between the two nations.

Conference highlights growing friendship of US and Uzbekistan
(Washington, DC 05/16/02)� Yesterday, the American Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC) hosted its Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Well-attended by leading policy makers from the US and Uzbekistan, the conference was hailed by members as the most successful event since AUCC's inception.

ISCA joins the "Armies of Compassion"
(Washington, DC 04/12/02)� President George W. Bush rallied his "Armies of Compassion" yesterday in a White House briefing to gain support for the CARE legislation currently under consideration by the US Senate. The Islamic Supreme Council of America was among the participants, which included some of the nation's largest non-profit organizations who support the President's Faith Based and Community Initiatives.

ISCA condemns bombing in Islamabad
(Washington, DC 03/18/02)� We at the Islamic Supreme Council of America are saddened and dismayed by yesterday's terrorist attacks in Islamabad, Pakistan. The tragic killing of innocent people, engaged in worship at a church, painfully reminds us of the senseless brutality promoted by terrorism.

ISCA endorses Wolfowitz statement in support of traditional Islam
(Washington, DC 03/12/02) The Islamic Supreme Council of America applauds the recent statement by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz in which he asserted that support for traditional Muslims is the key to winning the war against terrorism [reported by Newsday, March 9, 2002].

ISCA welcomes President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan
(Washington, DC 03/12/02)�It is with reverence and great pleasure that the Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA), its chairman Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, and thousands of ISCA members around the country welcome His Excellency President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan on his first official visit to the US. President Karimov will visit with President Bush today to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and spheres of future cooperation

State Department Renews Commitment to Honor Ramadan
(Washington, DC 12/03/01)�– In a gesture of peace and understanding to the American Muslim community, hundreds of Muslim guests were invited to break their fast at the State Department with Secretary of State Colin Powell. The guests included Imams of mosques, activists, representatives of national Muslim organizations, and Muslim members of the armed forces.

ISCA addresses hate crimes press conference, Joins DC leaders to protect Muslims and Arabs in the US
(Washington, DC � 11/26/01) Mayor Anthony A. Williams, U.S. Attorney Roscoe C. Howard, Jr. and Metropolitan Police Chief Charles Ramsey will conduct a media briefing to condemn acts of violence against Arab American and Muslim American communities, to encourage victims in these and all communities to report incidents of bias crimes and to assure the public that such crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney�s office.

Understanding Islam, Extremism and the Politics of the Middle East
(Washington, DC � 9/26/01) � At the request of a number of government officials, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, ISCA Chairman, will visit Washington, DC next week (10/1 � 10/3), following a two-day stay in New York City (9/28 � 9/29). He will meet with numerous political and diplomatic figures to discuss the recent terrorist attacks, and provide Islamic expertise and insight into the current situation.

President Bush announces prayer vigil for today
(Washington, DC - 09/14/01) Yesterday afternoon, President Bush announced that today, Friday, September 14, 2001, would be a national day of mourning, remembrance and prayer. The announcement was made subsequent to the Islamic Supreme Council of America's call to join Congress in making Wednesday, September 12th a day of mourning for the victims of Tuesday's grievous terrorist attack.

Muslims join in a day of mourning following terrorist attacks
(Washington, DC - 09/12/01) � The Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA) categorically condemns yesterday�s hijacking and attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and all other targets. From coast to coast, we join our neighbors, co-workers and friends across ethnic, cultural and religious lines in mourning the devastating loss of precious life, which Islam holds as sacred. We pray for the thousands of innocent victims, for their families, for law enforcement and emergency workers, for stranded travelers, and for all whose confidence and security have been shaken. We pray that God's Infinite Mercy reaches us all.

Indonesian President takes initiation with the Naqshbandi Sufi Order
(Washington, DC - 05/07/01) � On the morning of May 2, 2001, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani, ISCA Honorary Chair and World Leader of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order, and ISCA Chairman Shaykh Hisham Kabbani were invited to the office of His Excellency Abdurrahman Wahid, President of the Republic of Indonesia. It was at this third meeting with the Islamic Supreme Council of America that His Excellency President Wahid requested, and was granted, initiation into the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order.

ISCA launches world tour to revive Islamic Spirituality
(Washington, DC - 03/22/01) ISCA is happy to announce the imminent beginning of a world tour! Tour will include meetings with heads of state, government officials, community leaders, and the masses across Central and South Asia to revive traditional Islamic Spirituality.

ISCA congratulates Muslim community on successful Ramadan Stamp campaign - U.S. Postal Service to disclose stamp November 13, 2000
(Washington, DC - 11/10/00) The Islamic Supreme Council of America is honored to announce that the US Postal Service announced its approval of a stamp commemorating the Islamic holiday, Eid al-Fitr. ... This achievement marks the end of a successful campaign by the Islamic Supreme Council to encourage the issuance of a Ramadan stamp. We are grateful to the Muslim community, who participated with great avidity by flooding the Post Office with expressions of support.

ISCA Chairman addresses UNESCO Conference in Uzbekistan
Speech follows visit with Uzbek President His Excellency Islam Karimov
(Qasr al-Arifan, Uzbekistan - 9/20/00) - Earlier today, Islamic Supreme Council Chairman Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani visited the mosque and traditional teaching center of Shah Bahauddin Naqshband, in the village of his birth. Shaykh Kabbani was invited to the Republic of Uzbekistan to attend the International Conference on Interreligious Dialogue, co-sponsored by UNESCO and the government of Uzbekistan and held in Tashkent from September 14 to 16. The shaykh addressed over 40 religious leaders, scholars, policymakers and media specialists from around the world in the conference�s main plenary session. On the 18th of September, the shaykh then addressed a workshop on "Sufism and Interreligious Dialogue," held in Bukhara, where Sufis from eastern and western spiritual schools gathered together in Uzbekistan for the first time.

ISCA Announces 3^rd International Islamic Unity Conference, 2001
(Washington, DC - 8/11/00) � The Islamic Supreme Council of America, along with its affiliates, the As-Sunna Foundation of America, Kamilat Women�s Organization and The Muslim Magazine, are proud to announce plans to launch the 3^rd International Islamic Unity Conference, tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2001 in Washington, DC.

Islamic Supreme Council of America publishes quarterly journal, The Muslim Magazine
Opens new offices in Washington, DC
(Washington, DC 07/28/00) � The Islamic Supreme Council of America, a national organization dedicated to being a resource for traditional, moderate Islam, is proud to announce significant changes in our service to the greater community. Beginning this summer, we have been asked to publish the highly acclaimed, internationally distributed quarterly journal, The Muslim Magazine. To better accommodate our expanded role, we have opened new offices in Washington, DC. We ask our valued colleagues and associates to please make note of the new information and disregard our previous contact information.

Announcing ISCA�s Nationwide Agenda to Support the Pakistan-Kashmir Caucus
(Washington, DC 07/24/00) � ISCA announces its nationwide agenda to mobilize support for the Congressional Pakistan Kashmir Caucus. This Caucus is the only officially recognized entity in the U.S. Government uniquely positioned to defend the rights of Muslims in South Asia, particularly Pakistan and Kashmir. However, the Caucus WILL NOT SURVIVE without the support of the Muslim community!

ISCA meets Indonesian President as he visits the US
(Washington, DC - 06/14/00) �I commend President�s stance in his support for moderation. We salute Indonesia as the largest Islamic population in the world and whose majority are adherents to the doctrines of Islamic spirituality. We hope President Abdul Wahid will lead the way to implementing religious peace throughout the world.� � ISCA Chairman Shaykh Hisham Kabbani. As representative of current WCRP President, Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, ISCA was proud to host Indonesian President Abdurrahman Abdul Wahid�s lecture at the UN Regal Plaza Hotel in New York City yesterday.

June 9, 2000
Legislators form new Pakistan/Kashmir Caucus - Muslims urged to support their efforts
The formation of the Pakistan/Kashmir Caucus marked a pivotal turning point in the advancement of Muslims in the U.S. political process. The unresolved crisis over the governance of Kashmir has finally captured the attention of our legislators and we must take our role in encouraging such progress.

April 4, 2000
ISCA sends condolences to the family of Hesham Reda
“Inna li lahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon”
“Verily, to Allah we belong and to Him is our return.” (Holy Qur’an 2:156)
The Islamic Supreme Council of America and its supporters send condolences to the family and friends of Brother Hesham Reda, who passed away last weekend in California. Mr. Reda was the Washington Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and a longtime activist in the American Muslim community. “We express our sincere sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Brother Hesham Reda who are feeling his tremendous loss, and especially to his close colleague Dr. Maher Hathout,” said ISCA Chairman, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani.

April 4, 2000
CAIR continues to misrepresent Muslim scholar- “Cut and paste” tactics divisive for American Muslim Community
In a recent press statement released by CAIR (“American Muslim Media Watch” – 3/30/2000), the organization once again misrepresented statements of Islamic scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani.
In their excerpted version of Gary Rosenblatt’s, “Monitoring the Muslim Threat,” CAIR’s selective edits of the article juxtapose Shaykh Kabbani with those whom CAIR consistently vilifies as enemies of Islam. Moreover, it seems the advocacy organization would like to re-ignite last year’s fury over statements made at the State Department in January 1999...

February 15, 2000
ISCA welcomes President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to Washington
Chechen The Islamic Supreme Council of America was proud to participate in Azeri President Aliyev’s first public speaking engagement during his current visit to the United States. The President addressed an audience of over two hundred students, faculty members, dignitaries, and government officials at Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. His presentation centered on a plea for international assistance in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

January 31, 2000
Chechen Vice-Chair arrives in Washington as Foreign Minister departs
Chechen Foreign Minister Ilyas Akhmadov left Washington last Friday after a two-week whirlwind visit to the US, which included an extensive media blitz and several diplomatic meetings. The Islamic Supreme Council of America welcomes the arrival of Chechen Vice Chairman, Mr. Seilam Bechaev and Mr. Tourpal-Ali Kaimov, Chairman of the Budget Committee, both of the Chechen Parliament. The dignitaries arrived in Washington on Sunday, January 30, and are scheduled to speak at the Helsinki Commission’s briefing on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, February 2, 2000, among other speaking engagements during their two-week visit.

Chechen Foreign Minister deems trip to US “very successful”
Asks that humanitarian aid be distributed through proper channels
(Washington, DC -- 01/28/00) – Chechen Foreign Minister Ilyas Ahmadov and Mr. Lyoma Usmanov, the official representative of Chechnya, met with ISCA staff members in Washington yesterday afternoon to discuss the success of the minister’s trip to the US and his concerns for fundraising for Chechnya. “There were many doors open to me in the American media and political arena,” said Ahmadov. “This provided me with the unique opportunity to discuss my country’s situation with some of the highest officials in the United States so that they might understand the problem from the Chechen perspective….This visit was good for future negotiations.” Ahmadov, who had just returned from a trip to New York and New Jersey, expressed his concern about organizations in the US that were collecting money for Chechnya...

January 21, 2000
Chechen President says chemical weapons used in Chechnya
On January 20, 2000, the Islamic Supreme Council of America received an email from the son of Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, Anzour Maskhadov. The council also received a detailed video from Mr. Maskhadov, shot in Grozny, that shows the results of the constant bombardment and missile attacks...

Assassination Attempt on Aslan Maskhadov - Chechen president escapes 10^th attempt on his life
(WASHINGTON, DC – 01/17/00) – At 10:30 pm EST January 16, 2000, Mr. Anzour Aslan Maskhadov, son of the President of Chechnya, was able to contact ISCA offices via telephone from a secure location. He informed ISCA Chairman, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, that an assassination attempt had been made on his father four days ago in the mountains outside of Grozny. During the attempt, several people were killed and many were wounded, but his father escaped without harm. Mr. Anzour Aslan Maskhadov requested that the council follow up on this matter with appropriate representatives of the international community to investigate this assassination attempt and determine who is responsible...