International Qur’anic Open University Vice Chancellor Sends Appeal to the President of the United States to Halt Afghan War, on Humanitarian Grounds to Stop Obama

To the President of the United States, Syed Barack Hussein Obama: I, El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, El Hashmi El Hassani wal Hussaini and my Qadri followers hereby come forward to proffer our assistance  to act as much needed intermediaries  to play an integral role in sorting out and bridging the gaps amongst warring parties in the massive conflict in Afghanistan. We can, and must, collectively bring an end to the senseless loss of human lives and the growing number of victims.

Assuredly, I and my followers are genuinely and personally grateful for your efforts and considerations in this laudable undertaking and are quite confident that all the worlds’ citizens share in this appreciation as well. However, we are requesting, and hopeful, that at your upcoming meeting, Syed President Barack Obama, a mandate will be ratified to bring all American troops home. This war is not winnable. It is, therefore, our responsibility before the One Almighty Creator, as civilized men, to show the utmost respect for human life. Indeed, man has been made Almighty God’s vicegerent on earth and is answerable for the manner in which he bears this trust.

Because of this trust, the International Qur’anic Open University staff and students have been, and will always be, available to provide our services and support in promoting an end to all war and human suffering –as we have demonstrated for the last 30 years by sponsoring several interfaith rallies at the United Nations and in Washington, D.C., calling for an end to war. In addition to this, we have traveled abroad for rescue efforts and to provide medical relief for the quake victims in Pakistan; bought and distributed food, medicines and tents for Kashmiri refugees; were quickly on hand in the midst of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina; and were on site within 24 hours at Ground Zero assisting in the first responder efforts there.

The nature of these acts is simply our duty and purpose as Sufis; yet, we feel confident in appealing to your  refined sense of humanitarian responsibility as well.

The following is a letter addressed to the Pakistan Minister of the Interior, Rehman Malik, from the International Qur’anic Open University Chairman, the Honorable M. Hussein Omar Abu Bakr.

Honorable Minister Rehman Malik, the International Qur’anic Open University (IQOU) has applied for visas to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that have once again been disregarded. As the Chairman of IQOU, I take this time to address your office regarding the appalling manner in which the visa requests for members of our staff have been treated.
Dr. Bashir Abdul Wadud and Dr. Bilquis Abdallah have properly submitted completely valid visa applications and been denied. These are the same doctors who served as part of the American Muslim Medical Relief Team dispatched immediately to Pakistan to provide much needed medical treatment to victims of the devastating 2005 earthquake; of which the majority of patients they treated were children and the elderly.

Despite the lack of medical supplies or proper equipment, Dr. Wadud and Dr. Abdallah, worked day and night - all without expectation of compensation. All of their tireless efforts were organized by the Vice Chancellor of IQOU, El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, El Hashmi, who himself provided medical supplies, equipment and relief materials for the entire duration of the four month project.

Not once has the Pakistani government expressed a word of gratefulness or appreciation for the selfless sacrifice of the Vice Chancellor or IQOU staff.

Recently, the Vice Chancellor suffered a severe lung ailment, which led to one of his lungs collapsing. For the past month he has received intense treatment by three doctors at a Lahore hospital. Our urgent requests for visas to be at the side of our dear Vice Chancellor at this time, however, have fallen on deaf ears.

In light of the Pakistani government’s patent lack of sensitivity or even simple courtesy, we are withdrawing our applications and will use all of our resources to shed an international light on your inhumane treatment of American Muslims. We are not the people to receive this type of treatment.

It seems you have forgotten that it was El Sheikh Gilani who, as a child, first raised the flag of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and whose noble father played an integral role in the development and establishment of the Republic. Know that the Gilani’s are a noble family and stand in no need of soliciting favors from anyone.

Furthermore, we have taken a decision to withdraw the assistance freely provided to Pakistan over these many years. American Muslims are competent and respected role models with access to many resources. We are quite well off in America and currently have a number of students furthering their studies at Al Azhar, while others will travel elsewhere to continue our generous humanitarian efforts.

M. Hussein Omar Abu Bakr
Chairman, International Qur’anic
Open University

deputydirector at iqou-moa.org

(IQOU Press Release) –The International Qur’anic Open University staff and students sent their best wishes with the six travelers who arrived at Al Azhar University in Cairo from John F. Kennedy airport in New York in the latter half of February to commence their advanced studies in Arabic and Islamic sciences.

Abdul Rahim Harleston,  Naib Ibrahim Smith, Amir Mujahid, Ibrahim Caba, Jalil Lang and Hussain A. Muqit were welcomed by other members of the Muslims of the Americas currently matriculating at Al Azhar.

The six advanced students will also be expected to teach at IQOU educational forums as American Muslims become fluent in the language of Islam. IQOU therefore extends its heartfelt congratulations to the travelers and their families.