Al-Quds Needs You —IMMEDIATE RELEASE— NEW YORK, NY (May 11, 2021) – We on behalf of the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) write to you with heavy hearts during these final days of the holy month of Ramadan. Our Palestinian siblings have endured relentless violence at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces in the sacred site of Al-Aqsa for the past several days. As of writing this, 20 have reportedly been killed (including 9 children) and over 800 have been injured. Hundreds of residents of the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood are on the verge of expulsion from their homes, and armed settlers and Israeli soldiers are terrorizing the community and those in solidarity with them. This is a time for all of us to stand together at this crucial moment and take a stand for Palestinian rights — especially here in the United States where our government finances Israel’s cruel military to the tune of $3.8 billion a year. This ask is one of the most important we’ve ever had for you: can you please take just a few minutes to call your Representative today? All you need to do is call (202) 224-3121 and you’ll be connected to your Representative’s office. Once you get a staff member on the line (or if you’re asked to leave a voice message), Mention your name, your address, and ask your Representative to do the following: Join the Pocan-Newman letter:  Representatives Marie Newman and Mark Pocan are leading an important letter to urge Secretary of State Tony Blinken and the Biden Administration to express their concern about Israel’s imminent plan to forcibly displace nearly 2,000 Palestinians in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Al-Bustan and Sheikh Jarrah and calls upon the Department of State to exert diplomatic pressure to prevent these acts from taking place. The letter will be sent to Secretary Blinken on Thursday, so please use your representative to join the letter today! Publicly condemn Israel’s attacks on Palestinians in Jerusalem. Many members of Congress have issued press releases or social media posts condemning Israel’s attacks. Call on your representative to join them. While the videos of tear gas and sound grenades are heartbreaking and enraging, the imagery of tens of thousands of Palestinians praying Tarawih with resilience fills us with hope and commitment. Moreover, ICNA and USCMO have decided to designate Saturday, May 15, 2021, as a Day of Solidarity with Al Aqsa and Palestine. Stay tuned for more information. May our faith be as steadfast as theirs; while they brave a military assault, they remain unwavering. May our support for their struggle be unwavering.   Mohsin Ansari, MD Chairman, USCMO President, ICNA The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts. —END— Islamic Circle of North America E-mail: ICNA PR Email Office: (718) 658-1199

ICNA Condemns a Night of Terror at Masjid-al Aqsa NEW YORK, NY (May 9, 2021) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) strongly condemns Israel’s heavy-handed tactics against Palestinian demonstrators after plans are made to evict them from their homes on land claimed by Jewish occupiers. Israeli police fired “rubber bullets” and so-called stun grenades injuring almost 200 Palestinians at Islam’s third holiest Mosque in this Blessed Month of Ramadhan while in prayer. against helpless civilians Such brutal and barbaric actions violate every international agreement and accord. Let alone this violation has taken place at a venerable place of worship and especially on the 27th Night of Blessed Month of Ramadhan. For too long Israeli forces have provoked Palestinians only to fire at them in the name of rock-throwing. But the bottom line is evicting Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem and imposing illegitimate Israeli sovereignty over them has been the reason for the struggle of oppressed Palestinian people for many decades. Palestinians must be guaranteed their fundamental human rights to practice their religion in peace and not to be uprooted from their homes that are owned by them for centuries. ICNA stands in complete solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters and calls on our elected officials and the international community to categorically condemn practices that violate the sanctity of the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and uprooting Palestinians from their homes. We call on the world to stop practicing double standards and stand for justice for the Palestinian people. The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts. —END— Islamic Circle of North America E-mail: ICNA PR Email Office: (718) 658-1199

Passing of Br. Ashraf Sehrai —FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— NEW YORK, NY (May 5, 2021) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) is deeply saddened by the passing of Br. Ashraf Sehrai in Indian custody in this Blessed Month of Ramadhan. May Allah SWT write him amongst the martyrs and raise him on the Day of Judgment with The Prophets, The Siddiqoon, The Suhadaa’a, and the Saaliheen. No doubt, his death a big loss to the entire world. Br. Ashraf was the chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir; a movement seeking justice for the Muslims in Kashmir and struggling against Indian occupation of their homeland. Indeed, his struggle against the oppression and injustice of Indian fascist government will not be forgotten as the quest for freedom continues. ICNA’s thoughts and prayers in these last ten days and nights of the Blessed Month of Ramadhan are also with the members of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir and the Kashmiri people. We would like them to know they are not alone in their struggle against Taghut. ICNA also demands an independent probe into the cause of Br. Sehrai’s death while in Indian custody. May Allah grant victory to the oppressed people of Kashmir. Long live Kashmir! Ameen. The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts. —END— Islamic Circle of North America E-mail: ICNA PR Email Office: (718) 658-1199

Death of Br. Sohaib Sultan —FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— NEW YORK, NY (April 17, 2021) – It is with profound sadness that the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) learns about the death of Br Sohaib Sultan. He passed peacefully on Friday the 4th day in the Blessed Month of Ramadhan after battling rare cancer. He left behind his father Dr. Talat Sultan, his mother, his sister his wife, and his child, and the whole ICNA family. ICNA extends its deepest sympathy to Dr. Sultan and the entire family during this time. Our prayers and thoughts are with them. No doubt, the death of Br. Sohaib would have a profound and long-lasting impact on his family, relatives, friends and the community. Beyond this sorrow, we believe that everyone who enters this world must also exit as Allah SWT says: Every soul will have a taste of death. At the same time, we also believe that it is only with the decree of Allah SWT that one lives or dies as He SWT is The Muh’yee (Giver of life) and Mumeet (Causer of death). Thus, there is no such thing as an untimely death. As death comes to a family member or a dear one, we are required to have patience and trust in Allah SWT and proclaim: “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return). True Believers are given high honor when calamity befalls as they remain steadfast. Rasoolullah (SAS) said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affair is all good, and this applies to no one except the believer. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks and that is good for him, and if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” Losing a child, the rewards are great. Al-Tirmidhi narrated that Abu Sinaan said: I buried my son Sinaan and Abu Talhah al-Khoolaani was sitting at the graveside. When I wanted to go out he took my hand and said: “Shall I not give you some glad tidings, O Abu Sinaan?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Al-Dahhaak ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Arzab narrated to me from Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allaah (SAS) said: “When a person’s child dies, Allaah says to His angels, ‘You have taken the child of My slave.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘You have taken the apple of his eye.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘What did My slave say?’ They say, ‘He praised you and said “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return).’ Allaah says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.’” (Classed as hasan) We ask Allah SWT to accept all the good work of Br. Sohaib and grant him His Mercy and Forgiveness. May Allah SWT forgive him for all his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdous. We ask Allah SWT to grant patience to the entire family of Br. Sohaib. The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts. —END— Islamic Circle of North America E-mail: ICNA PR Email Office: (718) 658-1199

ICNA Condemns Horrific Shootings in Atlanta and Boulder —FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— NEW YORK, NY (Mar, 24, 2021) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) condemns in the strongest terms the horrific shootings and killings of 18 innocent people within a period of one week in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado, including Officer Eric Talley. ICNA offers its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims in these shootings and prays for the quick recovery of those who were injured. We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community which has been a consistent target of racism, time and time again. We also stand in support of all Americans who suffer from the onslaught of racial discrimination and persecution. We pray for peace and understanding and that true justice prevails. These acts of violence prove to us the level of hatred and racism that linger in our society today. To this, we say violence against anyone is violence against all; God mentions in the Holy Quran:“If anyone slays a human being-unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spreading corruption on earth-it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.” Chapter 5 – Ayah 32. We are alarmed at the rise of cases of domestic terrorism and gun violence in our country. There should be no place in our society for indiscriminate violence. ICNA urges law makers to address the rising tide of senseless gun violence with common-sense gun laws and to punish the individuals who committed these crimes with the penalty they deserve for these heinous crimes. “Our prayers and sympathies are with the victims of these disgraceful attacks” said Mohsin Ansari, MD, President, ICNA. The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts. —END— Islamic Circle of North America E-mail: ICNA PR Email Office: (718) 658-1199

  NEW YORK, NY (July 30, 2020) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) President Javaid Siddiqi sends his video message to the community on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.

—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—   SACRAMENTO, CA (July 27, 2020) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Sacramento Chapter launched a campaign ‘Islam prohibits Racism & Islamic Teaching related to Pandemics’ to address the problem of systemic racism within the society and to demonstrate Islam guidelines during pandemics.