The four day 8th BADR annual Convention in Toronto was concluded last Sunday. Please read the statement issued at the end of this unique event that brought thousands together.
The 8th Badr Annual Converntion in Toronto is concluded last Sunday July 27, 2008. On their last day, the participants held a free and open disucussion on the topics covered during the last three days and other issues that are of concern to Ethiopian Muslims. During this delebration, many expressed their worry on the new regulation of MoE, the Federal Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, the plight of Axumite Muslims and many more. The participants brought the convention to conclusion with a statement expressing their readiness to contribute their share to the betterment of the situation of Ethiopian Muslims.
On this final day, BADR presented the new leadership of the federation. Brother Ahmed Aliyu of Housten, Texas is elected as Chairman of BADR Board of Directers. A seven member executive officers was appointed. This body is to be led by Prof. Zeki Sherif. Prof. Zeki has been leading the federation for the last one year after the appointed president bro. Mensur Nuru was unable to complete his terms because of personal problem.
Badr 8th Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada
“Challenges and Opportunities for Ethiopian Muslims as Advocates for Human Rights in Ethiopia: Ethiopia Needs You!”
July 25, 2008
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuh-Peace be onto you!
I want to express my deep gratitude for giving me the opportunity to offer you some words of encouragement at your conference entitled: Ethiopian Muslims’: Challenges and Opportunities. I regret not being able to be with you in person to get to know you better and to affirm your important role in Ethiopian society, but hopefully, I will have that pleasure in the future.
These are just to let you feel presence in the conference room. More picture are coming soon.
Today is the third day of BADR International Ethiopian Conf. in Toronto, Canada. It was totally imposible to report on the second day. It was so great and many useful topic were presented. The principal issue which the convention paid attention to in yesterday’s presentation was about Ethiopian Muslim History. Bro. Muhammad Hassen presented a brief over view of the History of Ethiopian Muslims. Bro. Abiye presented a brief lecture on the life of renowned Ulemas and lessons to be learnt by the present generation. A 30 min video lecture on the histerography of Ethiopian Muslims was also presented. Later in the afternoon, Dr. Lapiso arrived and presented his lecture.
Today’s program started with presentation of the new BADR bylaw. Dr. Hassen Yemer, Prof. of philosophy, presented the bylaw to the public. Discussion is expected to follow later in the day.
Mufti Omer of Addis Ababa Majlis then took the turn and presented a sensational Message. Alhamdulillah. Every one is very delighted to have this great man among themselves.
Bro. Muahammad Hassen, chair person of this before noon program, just finished reading messages sent from distinguished figures from Ethiopian Community, among them Leul Asfawosen Asrate Kassa. He is now presenting announcements.
Insha Allah for more later
President of the ECEMA bro. Mahmoud Suadiq welcome the participants and outlined the varioius activities for the coming four days. Bro. Mahmoud noted that this year’s convention focuses on the history of Ethiopian Muslims, the problems they face, the opportunities they have and the strategy they need to use and exploite opportunities and overcome the challenges.
Dr. Zeki president of BADR and Sh. Muhammad Awol president of BADR Board took the podium one after the other and welcome the participants. Sh. Muhammed briefed us on the various achievements BADR made during the last three years.
My connection is not working well and don’t know if I am to be able update you the way I intended. The brothers could not fix the problem they have in sending the program out live. They seem to have lost hope, at least for this evening.
The 8th BADR Annual convention has just been opened on schedule. The conference was opened by a young Qari brother Seid Muhammad. Sh. Umer Idris who has travelled all the way from Ethiopia to take part in the convention blessed the Conference and the event went on full action at 10U00 local time.
The team who are supposed to transmit the program live faced unexpected problem. They are running up and down to get it solved. Will they succeed … lets hope.
Badr International Ethiopian Muslims Federation is to hold its 8th annual Convention from July 24 to 27, 2008. The organiser community, Ethiopian Canadian Muslim Community Assosiation, has finalised preparation to welcome Muslims from around the world. The preparation has also taken into account those who can not travel there. They are making the necessary arrangement to relay the conference online through paltalk. In the mean time Ethiopain Muslims International Studio [Paltalk Rooms -> Africa -> Ethiopia] is also making arrengement to receive online participants in its paltalk room. The room will be open during the conference hours. Attendents need to however take into account their time difference with Canada /Toronto/. It is an opportunity that we should not miss as this enable us to participate in the conference from our home or our working desk.
I am packing my bag to travel to Toronto to attend the conference. It is my first time and very much excited. It is my hope that I will also have the chance to keep you updated with with the latest. Visit me regularly, who knows I may even be able to update with every event right from the conference room.
Negashi OJ
Muslim Scholars of Addis Ababa organised last May, 2008 a one day conference. The conference discussed the achievements of Muslim Scholars of the city in their effort to create a Muslim Scholars Forum that would enable them discuss issues that kept them and the bigger Umma in a prision of its own - disunity, wrangling, accusations. On this historical occassion, an event where more than 700 leading figures of the Muslim Community participated, the scholars vowed to strengthen their Islamic brotherhood and Islamic Unity thereby stand up to the expectation of their religion and the Umma.
The achievements of these precious scholars were lauded by all the participants who also promised to stand by the side of those scholars in their effort to stand united and cultivate a habit of resolving differences through discussion - norms that have been missing so far and made the Umma unable to develope itself and its country. The participants then issued a statement wherein they applauded the achievments of the scholars and expressed their readiness to stand united and help and suppor the Scholars Forum to realise its Mission and provide service to the Umma and the country. The establishment of this Muslim Scholars Forum was coordinated by Addis Ababa Majlis.
Although the step taken by the scholars and set up of such a Forum is seen as historic one and is being praised by unity-longing Ethiopian Muslims both at home and in the diaspora, some individuals or groups have dared to come out and criticise the very initiative and the objective it stands for. Out of their disperation in not winning a single notable figure among Muslim scholar within the country who would support their view, they got refuge in a foreign scholar who is said to have issued a Fatwa (Religious Verdict). Negashi will soon comment on the actions of this group, their possible motive and the fatwa and other materials that have been circulating around through emails, egroups and discussion forums. Let me leave you now with the stament the conference participants issued so that you could also forumlate your own idea if Ethiopian Muslims do have any other option than the one our scholars brought to reality. Click here to open the scanned statment - PDF format.