Bismillahi Arrahmani Arraheem (in the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful)

The Islamic Center of Charlotte (ICC), one of the oldest centers in the Charlotte area, was a great place to worship, socialize and strengthen the faith through daily programs and activities. In recent years (even before COVID), the center has been on a downward spiral. Poor and absent leadership, lack of accountability and transparency and lack of programming and activities. This has reflected on the community’s morale, volunteering, attendance, spirituality and donations.

Here are some recent events and facts leading to this petition:

·        In 2015, Brother Yusuf Khader who managed the youth’s program and ICC’s daily activities resigned after several broken promises by the boards. The community was not informed.

·        In 2016, the community elected a new Board of Directors but an Administrator, though also an elected position, was appointed by unknowns.

·        In 2018, a group of community members falsely accused the elected board and got the head Imam to appoint a council from Arizona led by fundraised Omar Shahin who ruled to dissolve the elected board and appoint the accusers/plaintiffs instead.

·        Imam Bassam Obeid joined the plaintiffs to complain against the elected board while he has been negotiating his contract for months and lobbying the board to hire and offer a visa sponsorship for his relative oversees.

·        The appointed board seized the bank accounts and risked freezing all funds.

·        The community was kept uninformed about these events: sharia council decision, dissolving the board, appointing a new board, etc. 

·        No elections were held since 2016 even though the center’s rules call for elections every two years. The appointed board called for elections twice but abruptly canceled them with no justifications. The “ruling” of Omar Shahin itself included holding elections by end of 2018.

·        The new board revoked all memberships and imposed $100 on all new members. The updated bylaws of 2017 states that “Membership is permanent unless revoked by the board or by the member.” Revoking all memberships was wrong, unjustified and should be reversed.

·        No financial statements since 2015 though the bylaws call for yearly statements.

·        New fees were added including on Shahada Certificates for new Muslims, condolence events and various other social gatherings/potluck dinners.

·        Lack of an assigned Imam for all the five daily prayers.

·        In June 2021, Imam Mohammad Khan, the youth’s coordinator and the Islamic school’s teacher was fired with no announcement or explanation to the community he served for 6 years. This decision raises more concerns about management, transparency and accountability.

·        In July 2021, the non-elected board is proposing to amend the center’s bylaws while it is in total violation of existing bylaws by refusing to hold elections and community meetings and be transparent about its decisions. An appointed board doesn’t represent the community’s choice and it violates the center’s constitution which calls for an elected board to manage its affairs.

The current appointed ICC board includes Fadi Deeb, Jawad Saymeh, Burhan Sheikh, Jibril Hough, Anwar Ismael, Nael Abodabba and Muhyedeen Fidow)

IT IS TIME TO CHANGE.

Please sign this petition in support of:

·        An open community meeting (not a general assembly meeting) where every community member can participate, voice an opinion and offer advice.

·        A transparent election to be held immediately and before amending any bylaws, rules or regulations.

I pray that Allah SWT accept from all of us – Ameen.