As part of the IU Muslim Philanthropy Initiative's Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI), IMAN Associates president, Syed Ali Saeed, and Executive Director, Hiba Alami, joined  more than 65 people in Chicago, IL on Saturday, March 12 to learn, share and network together. CCI is concluding its 3 year research project, and this year, the main focus is sustainability. During the event, CCI participants, allies, funders and the Muslim Collaboration Prizes Selection Committee Members were able to talk about their experiences, learnings and also, there was a time to provide feedback so collaborations can strengthen. 

IMAN Associates is a member of the "Community Organizing" cohort, and collaborates on the project with Muslim Alliance of Indiana, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, Reviving Islamic Sisterhood Empowerment, and Minnesota Muslim Leadership Coalition. 

At roughly 12:30am Wednesday morning, March 9, 2022, the legislative session came to a close.  Of the thousands of bills offered at the beginning of session, roughly 200 made it to the finish line. Some bills of note:

HB 1002: This was the state tax bill that dealt with various tax situations, including lowering income taxes by roughly 2%. The bill passed both houses and should be signed by the Governor shortly. Taxpayers should see benefits from this bill in 2024.

HB 1294: This was the restraint of pregnant inmates bill. After being brought to our attention by an IMAN Associates board member, we got involved and worked with the bill's author Rep. Flemming to help its passage. It requires pregnant women in jail to be the least amount restrained possible if at all.  This bill brought us in line with Federal rules. The bill received no "No" votes in the House or Senate and was signed into law by the governor on Thursday.  A huge win for pregnant Hoosiers, and Rep. Flemming was thankful for IMAN's support and involvement.

HB 1361 and HB1410: These were the TANF and SNAP bills. 1361 ended up passing with language that includes eligibility requirements for the Federal Child Care Development Fund. 1410 passed after extensive work by IMAN Associates and many other groups to make the bill less onerous to effected groups.  Ideally, we would have liked these unnecessary bills to have died, but we were able to make some headway and get the bills in a better place. This is an issue that will probably be in a summer study committee and we will continue to fight for citizens to get the emergency help they need.

HB 1369: This bill ended up with many other pieces of legislation that were having issues with passage. 1369 ended up including language that would dictate what types of media educations facilities can have, a study language on delta 8, and the remains of a handful of other bills. It passed the House but died in the Senate.

After a convoluted journey, constitutional carry language passed both the Senate and the House. We join roughly 20 other states with this language, although there was concern from some law enforcement groups. I believe the governor will sign this but it's worth keeping an eye on. 
In the final hours 100 legislators wrote a letter to the Governor to hold a special session this summer if the Supreme Court fully or partially overturns Roe V. Wade, a decision dealing with abortion rights. We will keep an eye on further developments on this.

A major issue for IMAN Associates this year was helping our allies from Afghanistan as they transition to life here in Indiana. Over the course of the session, we brought attention to this issue and fought to get legislation passed that would continue to shine a light on these folks in need as their transition continues. Unfortunately that bill didn't get a hearing, but we are continuing to fight for our new neighbors throughout the rest of the year. We've received support on this issue from multiple Reps and Senators, including a Point of Personal Privilege from Sen. Qaddoura on the Senate floor this past Tuesday. We will continue to work on this issue with the legislature and executive agencies and should have more news soon.

While we didn't get every win we would have liked, the legislators increasingly know of IMAN Associates and our mission and we will continue to successfully build alliances and assist the legislators and state executives as they create sound policy for the state.

Before the committee hearing, Sen. Linda Rogers (HB1134 sponsor) amended the bill so teachers were no longer required to post list of learning material, there was no requirement for curriculum advisory committees. Also, language requiring schools to be impartial in teaching historical events was removed. The Senate Education and Career Development Committee approved the amended bill. It now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote. 

The amendment made HB1134 slightly less terrible, but still included much of the problematic language. It still includes excessive oversight concerning lesson plans, and the anti-Critical Race Theory language.  We will continue to fight this bill and try to either get it killed or continue to remove the worst parts.
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We need your help again! Urge your senator to vote NO on HB1134 using this link.

Thank you for taking action with us. 

We still have a few days left in the first half and anything can happen. We will continue to fight for your interests at the Statehouse and keep you apprised as things develop.

On Saturday, January 22, 2022, IMAN Associates, in collaboration with Indianapolis Muslim Community Association (IMCA) and Faith in Indiana, hosted more than 20 Muslim community members to discuss what public safety means to our community. Participants shared personal stories and reflected on how current policies impacted their lives. Racial and religious profiling and insensitivity to the diverse culture of our community were among the many concerns shared in the meeting. The group decided that "cultural and religious sensitivity training to law enforcement" can help mitigate many of the issues faced by our community on a daily basis. 

Next Steps? The group plans to meet with the Marion County Prosecutor's office to discuss the proposal. If you are interested in attending this meeting, please contact us. ​

Party will hold its 2022 convention on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center (Indianapolis, IN). As for the Indiana Republican Party, it will hold its 2022 Convention on the same day but at the Indiana Farmers’ Coliseum. 

The 2022 State Convention Delegates get to attend various party committee meetings and consider the Party platform during the state convention. They also get to nominate their party’s candidates for the offices of Secretary of State, State Treasurer and State Auditor.

Wondering if you qualify?  You’d be surprised!

You must live in the precinct you are representing and be a qualified voter. You are required to have previously voted in the primary for the party in which you are voting OR haven’t voted in a primary before and have declared affiliation with the party.

Muslims are underrepresented in our US politics and we at IMAN Associates would love to support you on your journey to becoming a Precinct Committee Chair and state convention delegate. Let's walk you through the filing process:
1. Identify your precinct and district (many have changed since the 2020 census). Go to Indianavoters.in.gov and click on "Register to Vote" or "Check Your Registration Status." After you log in, your voting information, including the Precinct number, will be displayed on the main page. 
2. Download CAN-37 form, and complete it with accurate information. 
3. Sign the form in front of a notary. 
4. Hand deliver the form to your County’s Clerk office before the deadline (Feb. 4, 2022 at noon). 
If you decide to run for both positions, make sure to complete two separate CAN-37 forms.

The 2022 legislative session has begun, and is off to a brisk pace. The Senate has released 417 bills and the House has released 441 for a total of 858 bills this session.

In Indiana we alternate between long and short sessions; with long sessions occurring on odd years and include the budget. They take place from January to April, while short sessions take place on even years, don't include the budget and end in March.

Since this is a short session, legislators are limited to drafting 10 bills. However, even with this built in cap, many bills will not be heard. Currently the legislature is prioritizing anti-vaccine mandate language (HB1001), and what can be taught in schools (SB167, HB1040). There has been some talk about lowering taxes such as a .23% income tax reduction, but it remains to be seen if the tax bills will pass.

One bill of note is HB 1353 which would help smooth the transition for refugees, is authored by Rep. Delaney. It's a piece of legislation we are actively working to get passed and It's currently in House Ways and Means committee. If passed, this bill will allow for nonprofits that assist one or more refugees to apply for grants, including Mosques and other religious institutions that have the 501(c)3 status.

We also have a number of bills on our watchlist during this legislative session. We will monitor the progress of those bills and take action as needed. ​

Things will happen quickly this session and IMAN Associates will be actively involved in the process to make sure your needs are represented. ​

You must live in the precinct you are representing and be a qualified voter. You are required to have previously voted in the primary for the party in which you are voting OR haven’t voted in a primary before and have declared affiliation with the party.

Muslims are underrepresented in our US politics and we at IMAN Associates would love to support you on your journey to becoming a Precinct Committee Chair. Let's walk you through the filing process:
1. Identify your precinct (many precincts have changed since the 2020 census). Go to Indianavoters.in.gov and click on "Register to Vote" or "Check Your Registration Status." After you log in, your voting information, including the Precinct number, will be displayed on the main page. 
2. Download CAN-37 form, and complete it with accurate information. 
3. Sign the form in front of a notary. 
​4. Hand deliver the form to your County’s Clerk office before the deadline (Feb. 4, 2022 at noon). 

It is the time of the year when we reflect back and celebrate our accomplishments. We achieved impact in three key areas: Influencing Public Policy, Community Engagement and Mobilizing the Muslim Vote. ​

On Saturday, December 11, 2021, IMAN Associates held its General Body Meeting at the Alhuda Islamic Center of Indiana. Syed Ali Saeed, the organization’s president, opened the meeting with a recap of our legislative activities and community engagement efforts in the last year. Then, attendees had the opportunity to engage with State Representative Edward Delaney on legislation he intends to introduce this upcoming session to benefit the Afghan refugees. It was a robust discussion where community members shared their perspectives with Rep. Delaney and asked him questions about the bill. 

IMAN Associates will take the lead on providing support to Rep. Delaney and pushing this legislation forward in the Indiana Statehouse. To get updates on this legislation, follow us on social media. 

In the early hours of October 18, 2021, the Islamic Center of Bloomington was vandalized. Footage from security cameras showed the suspect damaging picnic tables, destroying metal fencing, removing an HVAC unit from the wall, breaking playground toys, disabling a security camera and dumping trash cans. The cost of destruction is estimated at $5,000. Bloomington Police Department arrested the suspect on Thursday October 21, 2021. According to court records, the suspect has seven other charges.
IMAN Associates issued a statement condemning the vandalism and calling on Bloomington Police Department to investigate it as a hate crime. Alongside mosque leaders, the organization attended meetings with law enforcement and offered its support. Our Executive Director, Hiba Alami, spoke about the surge in hate crimes on WishTV and underscored that there is no place for hate in Indiana.

IMAN Associates' first board of directors has been steering the organization in the right direction since its inception in 2017. Last month, we held our board of directors' election. While some directors renewed their tenure, the organization welcomed new board members. We are excited that the following directors will put their talent and expertise to work while guiding the organization:
- Syed Ali Saeed, President (renewed his tenure)
- Azher Khan, Vice-President (renewed his tenure)
- Mehnaz Qureshi, Treasurer & Secretary
- Mahmood Iqbal (renewed his tenure)
- Ahmad Rami Saltagi (renewed his tenure)
- Moein Khawaja
- Saimir Qalliu
- Sameer Habib
- Ahmad Mossa-Basha
We give our sincere thanks to the following members who committed themselves to serving the organization in the last 4 years: 
- Judge David Shaheed
​- Samia Alajlouni
- Adam Paarlberg
- Eyas Raddad
- Asif Ansari

In a rushed, far from transparent process, the Indiana House and Senate approved new maps for Congressional, state senate and house districts. On October 4, 2021, Governor Holcomb signed the redistricting bill into law. While the supermajority touted the process as “fair and transparent,” All IN for Democracy coalition members, activists and Hoosiers were extremely disappointed. Their requests of holding public hearings across the state, giving Hoosiers more time to analyze the maps drawn by the legislature, and adopting the maps drawn by the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission were ignored. Also, the amendment by Senator Fady Qaddoura to HB 1581 that required maps to be redrawn by an independent citizens commission in 2031 was rejected. 
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​With new maps that “continue to give outsized influence to rural interests, even as the state’s population shifts to urban areas,” the GOP is tightening its grip on once-competitive races. Slicing the City of Fort Wayne into four senate districts is an example of how the new maps can promote political partisanship. Given that Democrats had a stronghold of Fort Wayne since 2020, the state senate districts were redrawn to split communities of interest and muffle the voices of voters. The redrawn 50 state senate districts are opening the door for Democrats to consider the possibility of a legal challenge. 

With the spike of Hate crimes in our nation, a new initiative led by the Marion County Prosecutor Office is a step in the right direction for eradicating hate crimes in our state. The new Hate Crimes Hotline will connect Hoosiers with a trained social worker and victim advocate who will document the incident and provide support to the caller. Tracking the number of hate crimes across the state will inform policy makers of the magnitude of the problem and help them pass laws to address the issue. 

On September 21, 2021, Prosecutor Ryan Mears, IMAN Associates Executive Director, Hiba Alami, and Imam Ahmed Alamine of Masjid Alfajr discussed how hate crimes remain a real threat to the safety of the Muslim community, the difference between hate crimes and hate speech, the Indiana hate crimes law and other related points. 

"According to the recent FBI hate crimes report, race ranks as the top bias that motivates hate crimes, followed by religion. Given that the Muslim community is racially diverse, our community is more likely to be the target of hate crimes than any other minority group," said Hiba Alami, IMAN Associates Executive Director.  

​We are grateful for the Marion County Prosecutors' new initiative, the Hate Crimes Hotline, that will provide Hoosiers a safe space to report hate crimes. Please call this number 317-327-5314 if you see a hate crime or are faced with one. For additional information about the hotline, you can visit this page and follow the Marion County Prosecutor Office on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. 

Our sincere thanks go to MOTW Cafe and Pastries for hosting the event.

Redistricting Reform has been one of the hot button issues lately. Redrawing the maps happens once every 10 years using the census data, and determines how congressional and legislative districts will look for the next decade. Indiana is growing more racially diverse, and the redrawn maps should encourage representation in the statehouse that looks more like Hoosiers. Our democracy is at stake, especially if partisan gerrymandering took hold of the process. 

All IN for Democracy, a Redistricting Reform coalition comprised of community and faith-based organizations including IMAN Associates, has been demanding the Indiana General Assembly to draw fair maps, hold public testimonies and run a transparent process. Hearings have been scheduled for the next couple of weeks and we urge our members to attend and testify in favor of fair maps. Here is the schedule: ​