ICCNC's Principles on Freedom, Women, and Human Rights
ICCNC's mission is to celebrate Islam through art, culture, and education. Justice is at the core of Islamic values for us. This understanding is based on the Qur'an, Sunnah (lived tradition) of the Prophet (PBUH), teachings of Imam Ali (AS) and Ahlul Bayt, and our understanding of the world around us. We believe:
1. In a compassionate, just, inclusive, ethical, and rational interpretation of Islam, and that the Qur'an asks Muslims to work for social, economic, and political justice.
2. Justice in society means freedom of belief, speech, and lifestyle. These freedoms are limited only when they infringe upon others' freedoms, as determined by free elections. Therefore, we believe citizens have a right to protest peacefully and deserve to be heard and their concerns addressed.
3. Muslim women are marginalized in Muslim countries, and their dignity and rights are denied, not by Quranic decree, but by patriarchal cultural practices and male-dominated interpretations of the Qur'an.
4. In a loving, respectful, and democratic relationship between the people and its governing state, as Imam Ali (AS) articulated in his historical letter to the Governor of Egypt, Malik Ashtar. In the letter, he writes, "Develop in your heart the feeling of love for your people and let it be the source of kindness and blessing to them. Do not behave with them like a barbarian, and do not appropriate to yourself that which belongs to them".
5. It is the people's right to hold peaceful assemblies and protests and to speak freely against their government without fearing retaliation.
6. All human beings are created equal and have inalienable human rights as citizens of their country, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, language, sex, or political belief.
Based on our core values, we have not remained silent against human rights violations, discrimination, oppression, and prejudice that are taking place around the world, including in the Islamic Republic of Iran. ICCNC is an apolitical organization, and political actions are not part of our mission. However, ICCNC has spoken against the injustices worldwide through its weekly Friday prayer sermons (khutbahs). We refer all interested parties to the sermons on the ICCNC YouTube Channel.
Recent events in Iran and the demonstrators' crackdown demanding reform of women's rights, better economic conditions, and freedom of speech have left the Muslim community dismayed. Sympathizing with the community, ICCNC condemned the forceful actions of the Iranian authorities against the protestors through its initial statement on Sept. 24 and the weekly Farsi lectures it sponsored on Sept. 18, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 9, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, and Nov. 6, Nov. 20, and Nov. 27 during this time.
We pray for peace and justice in Iran and around the world.