|
About our Public Policy work:
As the Pubic Policy organization for the Texas Muslim community F&J monitors and works via coalitions to educate state and federal policy makers advocating a "Centrist" approach to policy making. We monitor a minimum of 5,000 pieces of legislation annually in the fields of Education, Health Care, Liberties, National Security, and Foreign Policy.
Passing Texas's 1st Muslim Legislation
F&J also led and coordinated the state-wide efforts to pass the Texas Halal Food Law in 2003. This Islamic dietary law (HB-470) was modeled after our state's Kosher Food Statute. By coordinating the lobbying efforts of dozens of activists from around the state, HB-470 passed with 100% bi-partisan support in both the State House and Senate. HB-470 is a consumer protection law which makes it a misdemeanor to mislabel a food product as Halal and amounts to the Texas Muslim community's first legislative victory. The state does not define what is Halal, but producers are encouraged to obtain private certification from many available sources for their slaughtering practices.
Annual Texas Muslims Legislative Day
F&J institutionalized an Annual Texas Muslims Legislative Day at the State Capitol in Austin, TX. In 2003 we mobilized hundreds around the 1st Imam to open the Texas House with a Prayer. In 2004 we mobilized an overflow audience to witness the first Jumma (congregational) prayer in the State Capitol around the theme of Homeland Security and our duties as American Muslims. We've also sponsored conferences on Education Policy and its impact on TX Muslims (Dallas), Civil Liberties Post 9/11 and Islamic Shariah Law's Impact on Women (UT Law School). In April 2007 we organized another successful Texas Muslims Legislative Day event in the State Capitol with broad statewide participation. Due to the opportunistic politicization of the Imam's Senate Prayer by one Senator the event ended up solidifying mainstream interfaith partnerships between the Texas Abrahamic traditions. |
|
About our National Security Policy work:
F&J has voluntarily performed numerous Homeland Security and Public Diplomacy initiatives serving needs at home & abroad including:
1. Organizing workshops including a statewide capacity audience Texas Muslim Legislative Day event inside the State Capitol in 2004 on Homeland Security & Federal Law Enforcement Community relations post 9/11.
2. Educating Iraqi Media Executives on the Role of the Media in a Democratic Society.
3. Educating European Muslim Leaders on how to Civically and Politically integrate immigrant Muslim populations into Western Societies through interfaith relations.
4. Granted interviews on the state of Interfaith Relations Post 9/11 broadcast in dozens of nations in Africa, the Middle East & Asia.
5. Launched the TRIUMPH OVER TERROR (TOT) Project to help our Public Opinion and Policy Makers market the legitimate goals in the Global War on Terror more effectively.
About our Law Enforcement Relations work:
We also promote Muslim community-Law Enforcement relations across the Lone Star State and with all levels of Government. In most cities we partner with local congregational leadership on local law enforcement relations and spearhead federal (ex. FBI) ourselves.
About our Interfaith Relations Work:
F&J also coordinates a statewide membership body for Islamic Centers (Mosques/Masajid) called the Texas Islamic Council (TIC) with member congregations spanning from Tyler to El Paso and Dallas-Fort Worth down to Austin and Houston. Though the TIC Project was recently launched in 2005, it has quickly grown to include enough congregations to make it the largest single representative body for Texas Muslims. Building the Muslim Congregation Voices via the TIC allows F&J to elevate Interfaith Relations between Texas Muslims and Texas Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Jews,... |
Controversies
Texas Senate Imam Prayer
Khomeini Ayatollapoluza
Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Public Diplomacy
Events
Legislative Advocacy
Print Media
Broadcast Media
Texas Muslims
Civic Engagement
Elections Central
Government Central
Media Central
Texas Islamic Council (TIC)
About the T.I.C.
Triumph Over Terror (TOT)
TX Muslims Scholarship Fund
Applicants
Education
Health
Civil-Religious Liberties
Environment
National Security-Foreign Policy
