I saw this ... about Congressmen and others coming to Chicago mosque ...
http://thedawoodibohras.com/na_ui.aspx? ... ch-Program
Does anybody have more information on this. The weird part is this statement in there
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March 8 was also International Women’s Day and it was fitting that the consul generals of India and Pakistan both lauded the efforts of His Holinesses for the betterment of their communities. The Indian Consul General Mrs Neeta Bhushan mentioned in particular that Maula was the first to take up the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” project launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the keynote speaker, Consul General Bhushan, a career diplomat who has been stationed in many countries including Bangladesh and Dubai, spoke about the enormous achievements of women worldwide in fields such as medicine and business to becoming astronauts and Olympic athletes.
The Consul General of Pakistan Mr. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi expressed happiness that Syedna had chosen Karachi as the venue for the observance of Ashara last year and hoped that Maula would once again grace Karachi for next during next Ashara.
The event was also attended by the Counsul General of Egypt Mohamed Aboueldahab, who rearranged his plans to attend the event, the mayors of Oakbrook-Gopal Lalmalani, Willowbrook-Frank Trilla, Darien-Kathy Weaver, and Burr Ridge-Mickey Straub,
along with officials from the CIA, FBI, and US Attorney’s office in Chicago. Members of the Customs and Border Protection, the Tri-State Fire Department, and the Naperville Police Department, as well as religious and community leaders were also present.
The Mayor of Burr Ridge Mickey Straub wrote the following in his Friday Wrap email to the Burr Ridge community. His words reflect the sentiments of many of the government officials and community leaders who attended the event:
“It was quite amazing to learn how many dignitaries converged upon our area for what I thought was going to be a local, religious event. As I drove up and walked in, I quickly learned that a couple hundred people from Burr Ridge, across the area, and even from Washington D.C., came to participate in the Dawoodi Bohra Community of Chicago Celebration and International Women’s Day event.
It was held at their mosque along Kingery Highway in unincorporated Dupage County and attended by several priests, pastors and religious leaders from the area. In addition to Congressman Peter Roskam (one of the main speakers) it was also attended by officials from the FBI, CIA, several local mayors including Frank Trilla (Willowbrook), Kathy Weaver (Darien) and Gopal Lalmalani (Oak Brook) and members of Tri-State Fire and the Naperville Police Department.
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I understand politicians attend such gatherings in their constituency, but I did not know that in the US FBI, CIA also attend as a courtesy religious functions. Sounds weird. I did not think CBI or IB attends religious gatherings in India
This get-together took place in the mosque of a relatively liberal muslim group ( which is a good thing and it should be encouraged); but the irony is that they had this gathering on the international women's day and praised a religious leader who suggests practicing fgm/c. Sad think to do on the International Day of Women, especially by the Indian Counsel general, and a women at that.
Anybody can shed more light on this get-together?