Protest Against Mufaddal's Visit
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2021 9:38 am
I agree with the sentiments expressed in the below letter as a member of the Dawoodi Bohra Welfare Society.
Office of Right Honorable Priti Patel MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
27 August 2021
Dear Rt Hon Priti Patel,
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin visit to the UK
I am writing to you in my capacity as President of the Dawoodi Bohra Welfare Society, a registered charity (Registration number 272508 ) based in Great Britain, about our objection to the current visit of the controversial leader of the Dawoodi Bohras, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin who landed in the UK from Kenya on Tuesday 24th August.
We are greatly disturbed and flabbergasted that after his visa being rejected in 2017, he is now in the UK under Diplomatic status. We find this incomprehensible given his track record for supporting Female Genital Mutilation and for encouraging his followers to gather in large crowds, albeit in secret, in countries like Kenya despite the dangers of COVID.
Syedna Mufaddal occupies the position of “Dai-al-Mutlaq” – the Spiritual Head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, a Shia Muslim community with approximately 1.2 million followers world-wide. It is our understanding that he is currently isolating at the Northolt mosque at Mohammedi Park Complex, Rowdell Road, Northolt UB5 6AG and preparing to welcome hundreds of followers both at the Mohammedi Park Complex mosque and at the Mosque in Leicester, 7 Bath Street, Leicester LE4 7QD which he is due to inaugurate on the 3rd or 4th of September 2021.
Our objection to the visit are numerous but principally focus on the following issues:
Why has he been granted Diplomatic immunity when he occupies no Diplomatic role in India?
His support for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
His treatment of community members that challenge their human rights
His usurpation of community assets
His love for game hunting
As stated above, we see no justification why he is not following UK Government Guidelines and self-isolating in an approved hotel. Why has he been given Diplomatic immunity when he has no role in the Indian or any other Government in the world and is nothing but a ruthless spiritual head of a community?
Syedna Mufaddal was in Kenya a few days ago for the 10 days of Mohram when Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and his family members. Whilst he travelled in a glass vehicle to protect him from infection, his army of subordinates called his followers in Kenya and London, exhorting them to attend full-day programs of sermons. Attendance is, inevitably, accompanied with an envelope of money. We have seen pictures from which it is clear the Syedna and those within his institutions had no regard for the safety of others. There was overcrowding, obviously no social distancing and no provision for safety protocols. Although we were able to see some photos, there was a blanket ban on his followers on taking photographs or filming the events. We fear the same for his followers in the UK.
Syedna has promoted FGM (called “Khatna” in the community) for young girls in his community and, with his influence, many young girls have been forced to undergo FGM. Since FGM is illegal in the United Kingdom and the Syedna's stance on FGM contravenes UK law, it would is improper to grant him entry into the UK. Aware that it is illegal in many countries, he is now more judicious about public statements on FGM and advocates a more discreet approach. We fear that UK Bohra girls have been victims of this secret agenda and are always at risk of being harmed. The 2017 accounts of the Dawat-E-Hadiyah Trust in the UK, of which he is the Sole Corporate, includes £328,711, spent in 2017 (and £436,954 spent in 2016) on, “costs incurred in defending four members of the Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat in Sydney in connection with Female Genital Mutilation. The Nominees are of the view that a successful conclusion to this case would not only protect the worldwide reputation of the Charity but also His Holiness and the Dawoodi Bohra global community” (cited from the report and financial statement of the organisation for the year ended 31 December 2017).
Members of the Dawoodi Bohra Reformist community organised a demonstration on 3rd August 2017 in Birmingham where Syedna Mufaddal was inaugurating a mosque. The demonstration gained widespread coverage in BBC Midlands news and on social media internationally (see the link below).
Syedna’s power and control over the community is complete. As well as supporting FGM, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin is guilty of other equally egregious activities:
He uses social-boycott to discipline and control Bohras;
He requires an oath of allegiance from every Bohra which effectively makes them his slave;
He requires Bohras to seek his permission for everything they do, from naming their children, to burial, weddings and other important occasions;
Should any member object to any of his human rights violation, they are immediately ejected from the community and the family is forced to cut ties with the individual. For example:
One member of the Reformist community was not able to attend his niece’s or nephew’s weddings despite being central to their growing up;
Another family member did not attend her father’s funeral because her son and her husband had attended the demonstration against the Seyedna in Birmingham and were refused permission to attend the funeral;
Another step-daughter and her family were not able to attend the funeral of her step-mother, who had brought her up as her daughter.
He collects millions of pounds annually from the community for which there is no accountability. The accounts do not show the cash sums collected from community members.
Families have been forced to handover tens of thousands of pounds as contribution towards building of mosques. Often these funds disappear and members are forced to give more.
He hunts endangered wildlife in Africa;
I can give numerous examples of these inhumane acts that divide families and communities. Two inquiry commissions in India, The Nathwani Commission and Tevatia Commission in 1979 and 1993 respectively, reported widespread human rights violations in the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Syedna’s economic domination over the community was legitimised when the Dawat-E-Hadiyah Act was passed in the UK Parliament in 1993 giving the office of the “Dai-al-Mutlaq” (Spiritual Head of the community) Sole Corporate status. Now, all assets bought by the community for the community are given over to the Dawat-E-Hadiyah Trust of which the Syedna is the Sole Corporate. For example, according to the Trust accounts, the title deeds of the mosque in Birmingham, which cost £6,595,308 to build, were given to the Syedna. The same is true of the multi-million pound mosque in Northolt.
Syedna has huge international financial and political clout and has wooed the likes of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and Prince Charles, who has visited the Northolt mosque. Syedna has the financial resources to reach into the deepest sections of those in power and influence. As a small group of Dawoodi Bohra Reformists in the UK we are doing our best to galvanise support against his visit.
On another point, Syedna is fond of hunting big game, including endangered species. He has been photographed holding a rifle and crouching over a dead lion. Hunting for endangered species was also a favourite hobby of the previous Dai, the father of Syedna Mufaddal, who has been photographed sitting next to a dead elephant.
In closing, I want to urge you to please remove Syedna from the UK immediately and ensure he is not granted any visas in the future. In doing so, you will help protect British values and uphold the rights of the most vulnerable citizens, including the young Bohra girls.
Below are some links to provide you further context and background.
It is not possible to describe the long legacy of suppression experienced by members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in one letter. I can furnish you with evidence that can support my claims above should you need them, and I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss the matters further.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
Ms Haki Kapasi
27 Paton Grove
Moseley
Birmingham B13 9TG
Phone: 07968213452
Email Haki@inspire.eu.com
Office of Right Honorable Priti Patel MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
27 August 2021
Dear Rt Hon Priti Patel,
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin visit to the UK
I am writing to you in my capacity as President of the Dawoodi Bohra Welfare Society, a registered charity (Registration number 272508 ) based in Great Britain, about our objection to the current visit of the controversial leader of the Dawoodi Bohras, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin who landed in the UK from Kenya on Tuesday 24th August.
We are greatly disturbed and flabbergasted that after his visa being rejected in 2017, he is now in the UK under Diplomatic status. We find this incomprehensible given his track record for supporting Female Genital Mutilation and for encouraging his followers to gather in large crowds, albeit in secret, in countries like Kenya despite the dangers of COVID.
Syedna Mufaddal occupies the position of “Dai-al-Mutlaq” – the Spiritual Head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, a Shia Muslim community with approximately 1.2 million followers world-wide. It is our understanding that he is currently isolating at the Northolt mosque at Mohammedi Park Complex, Rowdell Road, Northolt UB5 6AG and preparing to welcome hundreds of followers both at the Mohammedi Park Complex mosque and at the Mosque in Leicester, 7 Bath Street, Leicester LE4 7QD which he is due to inaugurate on the 3rd or 4th of September 2021.
Our objection to the visit are numerous but principally focus on the following issues:
Why has he been granted Diplomatic immunity when he occupies no Diplomatic role in India?
His support for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
His treatment of community members that challenge their human rights
His usurpation of community assets
His love for game hunting
As stated above, we see no justification why he is not following UK Government Guidelines and self-isolating in an approved hotel. Why has he been given Diplomatic immunity when he has no role in the Indian or any other Government in the world and is nothing but a ruthless spiritual head of a community?
Syedna Mufaddal was in Kenya a few days ago for the 10 days of Mohram when Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and his family members. Whilst he travelled in a glass vehicle to protect him from infection, his army of subordinates called his followers in Kenya and London, exhorting them to attend full-day programs of sermons. Attendance is, inevitably, accompanied with an envelope of money. We have seen pictures from which it is clear the Syedna and those within his institutions had no regard for the safety of others. There was overcrowding, obviously no social distancing and no provision for safety protocols. Although we were able to see some photos, there was a blanket ban on his followers on taking photographs or filming the events. We fear the same for his followers in the UK.
Syedna has promoted FGM (called “Khatna” in the community) for young girls in his community and, with his influence, many young girls have been forced to undergo FGM. Since FGM is illegal in the United Kingdom and the Syedna's stance on FGM contravenes UK law, it would is improper to grant him entry into the UK. Aware that it is illegal in many countries, he is now more judicious about public statements on FGM and advocates a more discreet approach. We fear that UK Bohra girls have been victims of this secret agenda and are always at risk of being harmed. The 2017 accounts of the Dawat-E-Hadiyah Trust in the UK, of which he is the Sole Corporate, includes £328,711, spent in 2017 (and £436,954 spent in 2016) on, “costs incurred in defending four members of the Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat in Sydney in connection with Female Genital Mutilation. The Nominees are of the view that a successful conclusion to this case would not only protect the worldwide reputation of the Charity but also His Holiness and the Dawoodi Bohra global community” (cited from the report and financial statement of the organisation for the year ended 31 December 2017).
Members of the Dawoodi Bohra Reformist community organised a demonstration on 3rd August 2017 in Birmingham where Syedna Mufaddal was inaugurating a mosque. The demonstration gained widespread coverage in BBC Midlands news and on social media internationally (see the link below).
Syedna’s power and control over the community is complete. As well as supporting FGM, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin is guilty of other equally egregious activities:
He uses social-boycott to discipline and control Bohras;
He requires an oath of allegiance from every Bohra which effectively makes them his slave;
He requires Bohras to seek his permission for everything they do, from naming their children, to burial, weddings and other important occasions;
Should any member object to any of his human rights violation, they are immediately ejected from the community and the family is forced to cut ties with the individual. For example:
One member of the Reformist community was not able to attend his niece’s or nephew’s weddings despite being central to their growing up;
Another family member did not attend her father’s funeral because her son and her husband had attended the demonstration against the Seyedna in Birmingham and were refused permission to attend the funeral;
Another step-daughter and her family were not able to attend the funeral of her step-mother, who had brought her up as her daughter.
He collects millions of pounds annually from the community for which there is no accountability. The accounts do not show the cash sums collected from community members.
Families have been forced to handover tens of thousands of pounds as contribution towards building of mosques. Often these funds disappear and members are forced to give more.
He hunts endangered wildlife in Africa;
I can give numerous examples of these inhumane acts that divide families and communities. Two inquiry commissions in India, The Nathwani Commission and Tevatia Commission in 1979 and 1993 respectively, reported widespread human rights violations in the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Syedna’s economic domination over the community was legitimised when the Dawat-E-Hadiyah Act was passed in the UK Parliament in 1993 giving the office of the “Dai-al-Mutlaq” (Spiritual Head of the community) Sole Corporate status. Now, all assets bought by the community for the community are given over to the Dawat-E-Hadiyah Trust of which the Syedna is the Sole Corporate. For example, according to the Trust accounts, the title deeds of the mosque in Birmingham, which cost £6,595,308 to build, were given to the Syedna. The same is true of the multi-million pound mosque in Northolt.
Syedna has huge international financial and political clout and has wooed the likes of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and Prince Charles, who has visited the Northolt mosque. Syedna has the financial resources to reach into the deepest sections of those in power and influence. As a small group of Dawoodi Bohra Reformists in the UK we are doing our best to galvanise support against his visit.
On another point, Syedna is fond of hunting big game, including endangered species. He has been photographed holding a rifle and crouching over a dead lion. Hunting for endangered species was also a favourite hobby of the previous Dai, the father of Syedna Mufaddal, who has been photographed sitting next to a dead elephant.
In closing, I want to urge you to please remove Syedna from the UK immediately and ensure he is not granted any visas in the future. In doing so, you will help protect British values and uphold the rights of the most vulnerable citizens, including the young Bohra girls.
Below are some links to provide you further context and background.
It is not possible to describe the long legacy of suppression experienced by members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in one letter. I can furnish you with evidence that can support my claims above should you need them, and I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss the matters further.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
Ms Haki Kapasi
27 Paton Grove
Moseley
Birmingham B13 9TG
Phone: 07968213452
Email Haki@inspire.eu.com