​Masjid E Noor, located on 5355 Lafayette Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46254, is looking for a new home for its seminary, Alhussnain, in Clermont Village, Brownsburg, IN. The proposed project will offer a safe, walkable community where all people can live, work, worship and study freely. Given that a very anti-Muslim petition has sprung up to oppose the project, IMAN Associates has joined forces with Muslim Advocates to ensure that Muslim Hoosiers receive a fair and impartial evaluation of their application.

​The weekend prior to the public hearing, IMAN Associates sent a blast text to Hendricks County residents to garner their support. We also reached out to Brownsburg residents on social media and rallied them behind the cause. Our efforts have resulted in over 700 letters in support to be sent to the Hendricks County Board of Zoning Appeals. Furthermore, we lined up faith leaders and members to testify at the hearing. Both letters and testimonies echoes welcoming sentiments from Brownsburg residents who believed that Clermont Village will enrich Brownsburg’s religious diversity and build its tax base.

The Hendricks County Area Plan Commission voted to recommend the rezoning application be approved with a 4-3 vote sending the proposal to the county commissioners. Local media outlets, including IndyStar, WFYI, WishTV, WTHR13, and WRTV, covered the story. We want to thank everyone who sent a letter, testified in the hearing, shared our social media posts, and stood in solidarity with Muslim Hoosiers.

Convening a general assembly during a pandemic can be challenging! The 2021 legislative session started on January 4 with legislators attending sessions in-person. However, members of the public testifying on a bill must do so in person at the Capital building. They can testify on the floor or from a separate room via video.
As the second week of the session has come to an end, roughly 580 bills have been proposed in the House, and 420 bills have been proposed in the Senate. Here is a quick run down of the bills we are monitoring this legislative session:
A. HB1131 - BIAS MOTIVATED CRIMES (BOY, P)
B. HB1185 - BULLYING (PORTER, G)
C. HB1209 - BIAS MOTIVATED CRIMES (PORTER, G)
D. SB192 - LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING (TAYLOR, G)
E. HB1440 - RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES (DELANEY, E)

​Hazem Bata, IMAN Associates Public Policy Advisor, is attending weekly meetings with the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and Indiana Coalition for Human Services. Those weekly meetings help advocacy organizations connect and coordinate their lobbying efforts to take action on different proposed bills.

​Our heartfelt thanks go to each and every board member, volunteer, donor, event attendee, social media follower and community member who contributed to the success and helped the organization drive meaningful impact. Truly, it takes a village to bring change and we are grateful to all of you for playing an instrumental role in this journey.

The organization’s search for its first in-house lobbyist has finally come to an end! We are excited to announce that Mr. Hazem Bata has joined our team and will represent IMAN Associates and the Muslim community at the Statehouse. We are delighted to introduce Mr. Bata to you with this short bio:

Hazem Bata is the CEO of Trureal USA, a start-up company that raises funds for nonprofit organizations.
He is the former Secretary General and CEO of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the former executive director of the Counsel on American-Islamic Relations (Orlando). Hazem also started his own law firm and practiced in real estate and transactional work. He later became general counsel for Haven Trust Bank Florida and worked with Bank of America.
Concerned with the spread of the "Unmosqued" phenomenon and general lack of interest in Islam among newer generations, Hazem left his legal career and joined ISNA. He hopes to refocus the organization on strengthening mosques, making them more relevant to more Muslims, and ensuring they are an impetus for advancing the American Muslim community.
Hazem received a B.S. in mechanical engineering (with honors) and J.D. from West Virginia University. He also received an LL.M. in intellectual property from Washington University in St. Louis.
Hazem lives in Indianapolis with his super-lovely wife, Rayhana, and two adorable sons, Imran and Ibrahim.
Mr. Hazem Bata can be reached at hbata@imanadvocates.org

Last week, the Indiana Election Commission voted down expanding absentee voting to all Hoosiers. Voting by mail remains an option ONLY for those voters who meet one of the following 12 qualifications:

• Expect to be absent from the county on election day. 
• Are confined to residence due to illness or injury.
• Are caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury.
• Have disabilities.
• Are at least 65 years of age.
• Have official election duties outside of their voting precinct.
• Are scheduled to work during the entire 12 hours that polls are open.
• Are unable to vote at polls in person due to a religious holiday.
• Have recently moved.
• Are a member of the military or a public safety officer.
• Are a "serious sex offender."
• Are prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to polls.

With the latest controversy over expected delays in absentee ballot delivery, we urge our eligible voters to request their absentee ballots now. They need to complete this application form, and send it to their County Election Offices by mail (addresses on the 2nd page), fax, or email. The application to request a vote-by-mail ballot must be received not later than 11:59PM, on October 22, 2020. 

Eligible voters also have the option to complete the form online at Indiana Voters website. They need to log in to their “my voter portal page” by entering the requested information exactly as it appears on their voter registration record. When on the main landing page, the voter selects the “ABS-Mail” option and enters the information as prompted. After clicking “submit,” a confirmation screen appears that allows the voter to download and retain a copy for their records. There is no need to sign and return the online submission since the system applies the voter’s registration signature to the application on the back-end.

Important date: Before you request your absentee ballot, make sure you are registered to vote. Voter Registration deadline is October 5, 2020. You can register or check your registration status at indianavoters.in.gov. 

On August 6, we kicked off our candidate forum series with an event dedicated to Tippecanoe and Hendricks County voters. It featured Rep. Sheila Ann Klinker (the Democratic incumbent representing State House District 27), Joe Mackey (the Democratic candidate vying to represent Indiana's 4th Congressional District), and Stan Albaugh (the Democratic candidate vying to represent State Senate District 24).
​
On August 13, we hosted U.S. Congressman Andre´ Carson (the Democratic incumbent representing Indiana's 7th Congressional District), Rep. Cherrish Pryor (the Democratic incumbent representing State House District 94), Senator John Ruckelshaus (the Republican incumbent representing State Senate District 30) and Dr. Fady Qaddoura (the Democratic candidate vying to represent State Senate District 30). Moderated by Judge David Shaheed, the forum gave Marion County voters the chance to ask the participants questions about an array of policy issues, including racial justice, education, and health care. 

Did you miss those events? You can watch them on our website or Facebook page.

We are excited to bring our voters three virtual candidate forums that shine a light on different congressional and state races in Tippecanoe, Hendricks, Marion and Hamilton Counties. These virtual events are free, but registration is required to receive Zoom meeting info. Join us on the following dates:

Tippecanoe & Hendricks County Candidate Forum
August 6, 2020 at 7PM

Invited Candidates: 
U.S. Congressman Jim Baird (R) and Joe Mackey (D), 4th Congressional District
Senator John Crane (R) and Stan Albaugh (D), State Senate District 24
Rep. Sheila Ann Klinker (D) and James Hass (R), State House District 27

Hamilton County Candidate Forum
August 27, 2020 at 7PM

​Invited Candidates:
Ronald Saunders (D) and Scott Baldwin (R), State Senate District 20
Rep. Donna Schaibley (R) and Naomi Bechtold (D), State House District 24
Rep. Todd Huston (R) and Aimee Cole (D), State House District 37
Rep. Jerry Torr (R) and Ashley Klein (D), State House District 39

​On May 24, 2020, Masjid E Noor, a local mosque serving Northwest Indianapolis Hoosiers since 2013, was attacked by a drive-by shooting. Given that the mosque was following state guidelines to limit the spread of coronavirus, only a few members were gathered in prayer to mark Eid-Ul-Fitr, when bullets penetrated the windows and nearly struck some of the congregants in an act of attempted murder against those inside. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Masjid E Noor leadership reported the attack to the IMPD, and provided them with a surveillance video that captured what appears to be a red sports car from which the shots were fired. 

On Thursday, May 27, 2020, IMAN Associates and Masjid E Noor held a press conference and called on IMPD to investigate a possible hate crime motive for the shooting, to increase patrols directly in front of Masjid E Noor and other local mosques, and called on elected officials to publicly condemn this abhorrent act of violence. You can learn more about the press conference in the IndyStar, the Indy Channel, and Channel 13. Minutes prior to the press conference, CAIR brought national attention to the incident by issuing a press release. 

Muslim Hoosiers have received an outpouring of love and support from other faith communities. Pastor Jerry Zehr with Carmel Christian Church spoke at the press conference in a strong showing of support to the Muslim community. Other faith-based organizations issued statements condemning bigotry and hatred and standing in solidarity with the Muslim community, including the Center of Interfaith Cooperation, the JCRC of Indianapolis, and the Carmel Interfaith Alliance. Also, a number of legislators called for action following the shooting incident, including U.S. Congressman Andre´ Carson, State Rep. Greg Porter, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor and State Senator Greg Taylor. 

IMAN Associates and Masjid E Noor will continue working with the FBI and the IMPD, who are are currently co-investigating the attack. 

​On the heels of the shooting incident at Masjid E Noor, IMAN Associates held "Unsilenced. Giving a Voice to Disenfranchised People of Faith and Color," a virtual Town hall meeting with elected officials on June 3, 2020.

U.S. Congressman Andre´ Carson, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor, State Senator Greg Taylor and Indianapolis Deputy Mayor David Hampton participated in the candid discussion on hate crimes against religious minorities and racial injustice, and took questions from the audience.  Pastor Jerry Zehr with Carmel Christian Church, Rabbi Brett Krichiver with Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and Imam Shamaas Nyazee with Masjid-E-Noor closed the event with an interfaith prayer. 

Moderated by Rima Shahid, the Executive Director of Women 4 Change Indiana, it was a well-received event, with over 200 attendees joining via Zoom and Facebook live streaming. 

Missed the event? You can watch it on our Facebook page. 

​Senate District 30 is hungry for change and turned out to support Fady Qaddoura's campaign by nearly a 2 to 1 margin against his republican opponent. He is sincerely grateful to everyone who voted for him and supported his campaign. 

Interested to learn about his political priorities?
Join this upcoming event and show your support to the first Muslim American to run for the Indiana State Senate. 

On behalf of IMAN Associates’ board of directors, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our doctors, nurses, hospital workers and first responders for their tireless efforts on the frontlines and our sincere prayers for their safety and protection during this global pandemic.  Also, we want to thank Muslim Hoosiers who are staying at home and doing their part in combatting the spread of the Coronavirus. The need to pull together as one community has never been greater, and with Allah’s will, we will weather this storm.
 
In these unprecedented times, we believe Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network's mission is as relevant as ever. The organization is committed to keeping you engaged with politics and strengthening your voter engagement. As a community, we have to keep track of the decisions that elected officials on the federal and local levels make during this pandemic and decide whether we re-elect them or vote them out! With the absentee voting extended to all Hoosiers, we urge each and every community member to practice their civic duty and vote this primary election. You can find your absentee ballot here.
 
While our candidate forums were suspended, we are still eager to help our Muslim voters make informed decisions at the polls in the primary election on June 2. In the coming weeks, we plan to issue a series of Voter Education Guides to shed a light on a number of different races happening in Central Indiana and where the candidates stand on various issues important to Muslim Hoosiers.
 
Also, the organization is keen to empower you with information that will help you navigate the challenges that come with this health and economic crisis. Recently, the federal and state governments enacted a number of laws and issued orders placing a ban on certain evictions and foreclosure procedures. We put together the below advisory in an attempt to answer some of your questions and provide you with some guidance at this challenging time.
 
Finally, without your continued support, IMAN Associates won’t exist! We are grateful for your involvement and we wish you and your family good health. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, shall you have any questions or concerns.

With many blessings,
Hiba Alami, Executive Director

What is the “Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures”? The federal government and state authorities have recently enacted laws and issued orders placing a ban on certain evictions and foreclosure proceedings. The phrase “Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures” refers to these laws and orders. Please note that the ban on Evictions and Foreclosures is not universal. Homeowners and tenants must determine whether they qualify for the relief on offer. This Advisory will help you make this determination.
 
Can I be evicted if I am unable to pay my rent during this crisis? The short answer is no. But we will need to dig a bit deeper to answer more detailed and relevant questions. If you rent your home in Indiana there are two sets of laws which will help you answer some of your question:

1. Governor Holcomb’s March 19th, 2020 executive order, bars landlord from initiating any eviction actions until the state emergency has been terminated. As of now, Indiana’s state emergency is set to terminate on May 5th, 2020. It is unclear whether existing eviction actions should be stayed pursuant to this order. However, this question is a matter of interpretation for the courts. The language in this executive order can be interpreted to imply a stay on all existing eviction actions.
2. The federal government under the CARES Act has also placed a bar on all new eviction actions for non-payment of rent, fees or charges. The CARES Act only applies if the subject property has a federally backed mortgage loan or participates in a federal housing program (example: HUD public housing programs) (refer to “How do you know if your loan is federally backed” to learn more). The CARES Act moratorium will last for 120 days starting March 27th, 2020. The CARES Act also requires landlords (if their properties are covered under the CARES Act) to serve a 30-day notice prior to eviction and the notice must be issued after the moratorium has ended. The CARES Act moratorium has significant loop holes as it: (1) does not apply to existing eviction actions; (2) is only limited to evictions which are initiated for non-payment of rent but does not address “no cause” evictions often permissible under lease agreements. It is of importance to note that if your leased property has federally backed mortgage or your landlord participates in a federal housing program there might be broader relief which is available by different federally backed mortgage investors like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, FHA, etc. (Please refer to “Foreclosure Suspensions by Federally Backed Mortgage Investors in Effect Prior to the CARES Act,” Section for more details).

May 4, 2020 Voter Registration Ends
Register to vote or check your registration here.June 2, 2020 Primary Election Day
To ensure Hoosiers practice their civic duty and vote in the primary election, Governor Holcomb moves it to June 2, and the Indiana Election Commission expands vote-by-mail options. All registered and qualified Indiana voters are provided the opportunity to vote no-excuse absentee by mail.
Get your absentee ballot here.