A letter from a member of the Dawoodi Bohra Welfare Society to the UK Home secretary
Office of The Right Honorable Priti Patel MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
10th July 2022
Dear Rt Hon Priti Patel,
Re: Dawoodi Bohra Shia sect religious leader Mr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin's 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 is arriving in the UK from Kenya this month
We are greatly disturbed and flabbergasted that after his visa being rejected in 2017, he is now allowed in the UK under Diplomatic status.
We find this incomprehensible given his track record for supporting Female Genital Mutilation FGM 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 small sect of Shia Muslim community with approximately 1 million followers world-wide.
It is our understanding that he will be staying in a purpose built house at the Northolt Mosque at Mohammedi Park Complex, Rowdell Road, Northolt UB5 6AG and preparing to welcome tens of thousands of followers at the Mohammedi Park Complex mosque in Northalt.
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 and for
his love for game hunting
As stated above, we see no justification 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?
He has demanded 10 million pounds to bless the community and for delivering the sermons for 10 days of Moharam when Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him)
his army of subordinates demands big money from each household and forces followers to shut their businesses and refrain from sending children to schools and colleges
during the 10 days of ASHARA (MOHARRAM)
During these 10 days, all sorts of fancy titles are sold behind the close doors of the mosque to men and women of the community, titles of SHAIKH, MULLA, NKD, NDI, his family members demands sums of minimum £72,000 for the privileges and gains a highest status in the mosque, allows the title holder to seat in the first row to pray, let's the title holders to kiss the hands and feet of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin and his wife and finally, when the person with these fancy titles dies, His Holiness' previous dead DAI (religious leader) will hold the hands of the dead person and lead him or her to Jannah (heaven).
The income of millions of British pounds earned during the 10 days of Ashura is then laundered by his 100's of followers returning back to India.
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 be 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 Dawoodi 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 Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin 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 stop Syedna from entering the UK and revoke his diplomatic status 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