Assalamu Alukum Wa Rahmatullahi Wabarakato
I invite each and every one of you to participate in this discussion in order to have a clear idea of what you would like to see as a governance system at Masjid Al-Noor. Here is one of the latest e-mail that went out to the community:
Br. Khaled Farag wrote on Fri, 7 May 2010:
"Dear Br. Hany:
CC Masgid Al-Noor Community
Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatu Alla.
First, you need to understand that the magistrate recommendation was never adopted by the judge and we withdrew the case. Therefore, it has no legal significance. We could have challenged it, appealed it and got a different decision in the end, but we chose not to and instead withdraw the case. There has been no legally binding determination of who is a board and who is not a board. If you doubt this ask your personal attorney whom you have copied your emails.
Second, currently we have a fundraiser set for tomorrow decided and adopted by what you call the “disputed board”. The “disputed board” also appointed a new treasurer for the organization, filed a new bylaws and constitution with the secretary of state and added AIW board members. Let us assume that the real "permanent" board is as you claim: myself, you and Amjad and you want to formally undo everything that the “disputed board” did. Then per the old bylaws we must have a board meeting and unanimously agree to send a revised bylaws and constitution to the secretary of state, unanimously agree to ratify the decision to hold a fundraiser tomorrow, unanimously appoint a new treasurer or ratify his appointment, unanimously adopt a resolution ratifying or rescinding the appointment of new AIW board members etc. Then, if let's say for the sake of example, someone does not listen to our decision, we would have to unanimously pass a resolution to hire an attorney and take legal action to defend the organization. Decisions are made by the board and not individual board members not in a BOD meeting where votes are taken according to the bylaws.
As the organization's secretary, I am calling for such a board meeting. Dates and venue have been set. Until then, unless advised otherwise by an AIW corporate legal council, all decision by the “disputed board” despite of their resignation are binding on the organization as the magistrate said with respect to all third parties effected by those decisions. So the fundraiser is a valid AIW event. If someone gets hurt at the event for example, AIW is legally liable. The current treasurer can legally pay the current bills. The bylaws at the secretary of state’s office are legally binding on the organization. People hired or appointed by the “disputed board” can continue to perform their functions. I am calling for a meeting so we can unanimously resolve these issues so that there are no doubts. In the board meeting we need to :
(1) Follow the by laws (which ever version you choose) to the letter and determine the eligibility of the board members to be on the board.
(2) Add undisputed Board members and Vote or affirm a chairman, treasurer and secretary.
(3)Vote to hire a new legal council for the organization to render legal opinion on any questions that come up in the recovery process
(4) Now that the financial report has been publicized, to clear the organizations name and, lets vote on a resolution confirming that no organizational funds were used to pay anyone's legal fees in any dispute. This will enhance the community's confidence in the organization.
(5) Either appoint a new treasurer or legally affirm the current treasurer.
Several overtures for reconciliation and requests for a BOD meeting (even for the three founding members only, independent of their status or qualification to be on the board) have already been made delayed or ignored this week. This contradicts the promise you made to the court. I have offered to have a board meeting with few of the respected members of the community present so that we can get down to business, but the suggestion has been brushed, delayed and qualified with excuses of needing more time. I hope all issues are resolved peacefully for the benefit of the organization. Any resolution is acceptable to me provided one condition is met: I did not spend the last ten years of my life building this organization to watch it’s governance converted to the Iranian model of government where a single Ayatollah (or "Great Immam") holds all real legal and spiritual power in the organization and rules as he pleases.
As long as at the end of the day, the board is legitimately expanded beyond the Saqr family, Board members are added and there are appropriate checks and balances on power in the organization AIW, then I will feel that I have done the last task I owe Allah and this organization before I move on with my life and do other things.
Sincerely,
Khaled Farag
AIW Secretary"
Let us all provide our sincere suggestions, recommendations, and advise, all within the boundary of Islamic manners, for which Prophet Mohammad (SAW) was sent.
JAK
Abu Omar
October 1998 New Year at Sunrise
7 years ago
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t it amusing that autocrats/dictators suddenly develop appreciation for democratic rule, accountability and transparency, just at the moment they realize that they might be deposed and that their days are numbered.
ReplyDeleteKhaled Farag writes:
“In the board meeting we need to :
(1) Follow the by laws (which ever version you choose) to the letter and determine the eligibility of the board members to be on the board.”
I am curious what prevented him (Khaled) from doing so when he and Hani “added” the three “disputed board” members. Was it just a matter of convenience? As brother Hasan Ayoub said in his resignation letter, so that the self-appointed three member real board can have its dictatorship cake and eat it too?
Then Khaled Farag adds:
“Any resolution is acceptable to me provided one condition is met: I did not spend the last ten years of my life building this organization to watch it’s governance converted to the Iranian model of government where a single Ayatollah (or "Great Immam") holds all real legal and spiritual power in the organization and rules as he pleases.”
Funny. For 10 years, you evidently had no problem with that kind of arrangement, as long as you were part of the unaccountable collective Ayatollah system of governance.
“As long as at the end of the day, the board is legitimately expanded beyond the Saqr family, Board members are added and there are appropriate checks and balances on power in the organization AIW”
This is just the height of hypocrisy. Where were the “checks and balances” you now seem to care so much about, when you were simultaneously the President and CEO of the donating and loaning company, AI Limited, the President and CEO of the builder, Silver Development, and both the Secretary and Treasurer of AIW/NICC. For ten years, you had no problem with that! Did you just suddenly see the light?
The above Anonymous made some very interesting observations: "Where were the “checks and balances” you now seem to care so much about, when you were simultaneously the President and CEO of the donating and loaning company, AI Limited, the President and CEO of the builder, Silver Development, and both the Secretary and Treasurer of AIW/NICC."
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is for this reason he decided to withrdraw the case. Can you imagine if all this, and Allah (swt) knows what else could have been uncovered during the trial became public, AIW could have lost its tax exempt status and Br. Khaled and B. Hani could be sharing a cell in the Franklin County Jail. Yes, he not only saw the "light" but he has also seen the writing on the wall.
And don't forget that Iranian government is hold and supported by Arabs. Hamas, Hizbollah and Syrian special agents have filled Iran's streets during the demonstrations and ruthlessly killed Iranian protestors. Don''t forget how you Arabs invaded Ancient Iran and by making rivers of blood forced Islam on great civilized people of Iran. Thanks to your actions all over the world the contervorsy of Islam and the true nature of it is being known to the world. You guys under the name of Islam breed close-minded, prejudice followers, and never have peace amongst yourselves. Look at Masjid al Noor, the Imam of that masjid looks so shabby and dirty, the mosque stinks during the month of Ramadan, and people do not have any etiqutte. Women are given the smallest and worst place to break their fast in, your culture stinks. How come your women have to cover themselves to prove their modesty, and you guys stare at other women muslim or non=muslim like crazy, and your leaders have harams of 400 wives. Islam stinks and is the only religion that promotes hatred, killing under the name of sharia, abuse of women and children, terrorism and above all HYPOcrocy. Get a life and don''t embarass yourselves over power and money.
ReplyDeleteOh Wow!! How come this guy does not compare whatever is going on in his mosque " dictatorship,etc.." that was mentioned by themselves to the governments of Syria, Libia ( Gadafi), Saudi Arabia, and so many other govrnments of the Arab word that are rulled by kings and amirs. The Arab-based government of Iran (by stupid mullahs who are rooted in the religion of Islam- an Arab religion) is despised by all Iranians, my suggestion to you is you have plenty enough examples in your Arab culture to mention, don't bring Iraninans into your mess.
ReplyDelete