Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy

September 18, 2009
Dear Friends and Members of CSID,


 
Asma AfsaruddinEID MUBARAK.  As the sacred month of Ramadan draws to a close and as Muslims look forward to the festive season following it, we at CSID wish our Muslim members a blessed conclusion to this month.  For all our members, regardless of their faith tradition, warm greetings and wishes for peace, prosperity, success, and happiness.
 
These past years, as many of you know, have been challenging for us; we have had our share of notable accomplishments and of disappointing setbacks.  First the positive news: 

Conference Report Photo 1Our 10th annual conference in May, 2009 was a huge success during which for a whole day in Washington, DC we pondered the potential impact the new Obama administration will have on future US relations with the Muslim world.  Taking our cue from the President himself, we highlighted the necessity of reaching out to the Muslim world and pointed to the unique opportunities as well as potential pitfalls inherent in taking these risks for a more peaceful and just world. Over 250 scholars and policy makers attended our 10th Annual Conference.

March 10 Press Conference 1CSID drafted, co-sponsored, and circulated an open letter to President Obama urging him, and his administration, to support democracy in the Arab and Muslim worlds as the only way to build a better future for the peoples of the region, and improve relations between the US and the Muslim world.  The letter was signed by over 1,600 scholars, policy-makers, and political leaders from the U.S. and the Muslim world.

Tunis Conference 2CSID also organized major conferences and workshops on Islam and Democracy in Tunisia, Bahrain, Algeria, Sudan, and Egypt.  These conferences and workshops bring together many of the local activists, scholars, and leaders - both moderate Islamists and secularists - and help to develop a common agenda and platform for all Arab and Muslim democrats in the region. 

Bahrain Workshop 1CSID has trained over 4,000 activists and religious leaders (Imams) with our unique training workshops on "Islam and Democracy - Towards an Effective Citizenship", and continues to organize these workshops throughout the region, in addition to building and supporting the Network of Democrats in the Arab World (NDAW).

All of these activities are, of course, in addition to our Monthly Lecture Series, several publications, websites (in English, Arabic, and Persian), and a weekly E-mail Bulletin which reaches 25,000 people around the world.
 
All these projects cost us money and energy.  While we at CSID continue to forge ahead with our mission and goals with as much enthusiasm as we can muster, we can succeed only to the extent that you continue to support us, morally and financially.  Support from our membership has never been more critical as we battle the global  financial crisis on the one hand and the hostile opposition of a few extremists on the other.   But our allies are also many and together we can continue to make a difference in the world for the better as we strive together to eradicate ignorance and bigotry, and promote democratic, thriving civil societies in Muslim-majority countries. 
 
For our Muslim members, we hope you will donate generously to CSID in the spirit of Ramadan that emphasizes working together to better ourselves and our communities.  Your donations to CSID are tax-deductible and qualify as zakat (see here for endorsement).
 
For all our members, we hope in a common spirit of charity you will continue to donate to our worthy causes and help us fight the good fight as we train democracy activists in critical areas of the world and seek to empower men and women socially, morally, politically, and economically so that all may have access to God's bounty and to the good and purposeful life.
 
Won't you please join us and support CSID?
 
With best wishes and greetings to all, and a warm Ramadan and Eid Mubarak to our Muslim friends and members.

 
Asma Afsaruddin

Chair
CSID Board of Directors


By supporting CSID, YOU:
 
  • Create a better future for our children so they can have more opportunities for improving their lives and realizing their dreams.
  • Educate and inform Americans about Islam's true values of tolerance, peace, and good will towards mankind, including peoples of other faiths.
  • Improve U.S. relations with the Muslim world by supporting popular movements rather than oppressive tyrannies and corrupt regimes.
  • Replace the feelings of hopelessness, despair, and anger in many parts of the Muslim world, especially among the youth, with a more positive and hopeful outlook for the future.
  • Encourage young Muslim Americans, and Muslims everywhere, to participate in the political process and to reject calls for destructive violence and extremism.
  • Build a network of Muslim democrats around the globe who can share knowledge and experience about how to build and strengthen democratic institutions and traditions in the Muslim countries.

Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy
Membership/Donation Form 2009-2010
    


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Please donate generously. Your contribution to CSID is not only tax-deductible, it is also zakat-eligible. Your contribution will make a world of difference.

The Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy is a non-profit think tank, based in Washington DC - dedicated to promoting a better understanding of democracy in the Muslim world, and a better understanding of Islam in America. To achieve its objectives, the Center organizes meetings, conferences, and publishes several reports and periodicals. CSID engages Muslim groups, parties, and governments - both secularist and moderate Islamist - in public debates on how to reconcile Muslims' interpretation of Islam and democracy.  CSID is committed to providing democracy education to ordinary citizens, civil society, religious and political leaders in the Muslim world, and has organized meetings, workshops, and conferences in over 25 countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Iran, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, etc.
 
"In just a few years, CSID has done remarkable work in facilitating the vital discussion about Islam and democracy in the United States and beyond. In so doing it has made an invaluable contribution to breaking down prejudice and misunderstanding and to meeting the crucial challenge of advancing human rights and democracy in the Muslim world." 
Neil Hicks
Human Rights Defenders Program

"The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) plays an absolutely vital role in creating a platform for the voices of democracy and reform throughout the Muslim World. Equally vital is the role they play in bringing a better understanding of the diversity within Islam to the people of America. CSID's advocacy of Islamic values coupled with democratic principles needs and merits our support."

John D. Sullivan
Center for International Private Enterprise


For more on What they Say about CSID please visit our website:  www.csidonline.org


Remember that CSID cannot succeed without your continued support - both moral and financial.  Here are 4 simple ways for you to help support CSID:
  • Renew your membership or make a donation.  Please donate $50, $250, $500, $1,000 or whatever you can afford to help support CSID in its mission of promoting and supporting democracy, developing and promoting a modern democratic Islamic discourse, and improving relations and understanding between the U.S. and the Muslim World.  You can donate or join / renew online or by check.
  • Forward this e-mail and Invite others to subscribe to the CSID E-mail Bulletin and help us double our reach from 25,000 to 50,000 by the end of 2009.  Just click on the forward or SHARE buttons at the bottom of this page to forward the invitation to as many people as you can or to post it on your Facebook profile.
  • Update your information by clicking the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of the page, so that we can inform you of any upcoming CSID events, conferences, or seminars in your city or country.  You can also choose whether to receive the Bulletin in English, Arabic, or both.
Together, we can work for peace, justice, freedom, and democracy in the Arab and Muslim worlds, and we can build better relations between the US, the West, and the countries and peoples of the Muslim World.

Photos compiled for the conference
الإخوة الأعزّاء و الأخوات العزيزات

مرحبًا بكم في النشرة الإلكترونيّة لمركز دراسة الإسلام و الديمقراطيّة!  نرجو أن تكونوا راضين و مستفيدين من المقالات و الأخبار و التقارير التي ننشرها حول موضوع العلاقة بين الإسلام و الديمقراطيّة أو عن نشاطات المركز في الولايات المتّحدة و حول العالم

تذكّر أخي العزيز و أختي العزيزة أنّ مركزكم في حاجة إلى دعمكم المادي و المعنوي، و هذه أربعة وسائل لدعم المركز


- جدّد عضويّتك أو تبرّع بالمال $٢٠، $١٠٠، $١،٠٠٠ أو أيّ مبلغ تقدر عليه لتدعم المركز في نشر و تقوية قيم العدالة و المساواة و الحرّية و الديمقراطيّة في العالمين العربي و الإسلامي، تطوير و نشر فكر إسلامي معاصر ديمقراطي و مستنير، و تحسين العلاقة بين أمريكا و الغرب و العالم الإسلامي.  بإمكانكم التبرّع أو تجديد العضويّة عن طريق الإنترناة أو البريد

- إرسل هذا الإيميل إلى أصدقائك و أدعوهم إلى الإنخراط في القائمة الإلكترونيّة للمركز و ساعدنا في تنميّة عدد المنخرطين من ٢٥،٠٠٠ إلى ٥٠،٠٠٠ قبل نهاية السنة.  فقط إضغط على الواصل   Forward  أو  Share  في أسفل الصفحة لدعوة أصدقائك إلى الإنضمام

- حدّث معلوماتك عن طريق الضغط على واصل التحديث في أسفل الصفحة و ذلك حتّى نتمكّن من إبلاغكم بنشاطات المركز في مدينتكم أو بلدكم كما يمكنكم أن تحدّدوا اللغة التي ترغبون في التواصل بها - عربيّة، إنقليزيّة، أو الإثنين معًا 

- إنضمّ الآن إلي قضيّة المركز على فاسبوك و أدعو أصدقاءك إلى الإنضمام

معًا يمكننا أن نعمل لدعم قضايا السلم و العدل و الحرّية و الديمقراطيّة في العالمين العربي و الإسلامي و أن نبني مستقبل أفضل لشعوبنا و تحسين العلاقات بين أمريكا و الغرب من جهة و الشعوب و البلدان الإسلاميّة من جهة أخرى

إنّنا نقوم بواجبنا و نرجوكم أن تساعدوننا


Photo Composite for the Bulletin