I'm hearing that Nancy Khalil will no longer be the Muslim Chaplain at Wellesley College. I'm further hearing that Najiba Akbar is slated to walk into that position, with no open announcement or competition for for job. That's a little odd, innit?
Phyllis Chesler raised a few questions about the former Muslim chaplain here last October. Ms. Khalil was known as a big proponent of hijab. According to several Wellesley Muslim students, there was strong peer pressure in the Wellesley Muslim student group to wear headscarves and cover up. Otherwise, you were not considered a “real Muslim.” Another student reported being told "not to run and not to laugh too loudly" at an Al-Muslimat weekend retreat. At Wellesley, Hillary Clinton's college, imagine a woman being told this! The former Wellesley chaplain routinely took her students to the ISB mosque and she studied under the ISB's imam Basyouny Nehela. Will the next Muslim chaplain also be an advocate for the ISB?
Najiba Akbar (seen in this photo) is reportedly married to Bilal Kaleem, the Executive Director of MAS Boston. As I've mentioned before, the Islamic Society of Boston and the Muslim American Society are esentially the same organization, sharing funding, directors and office space. The ISB/MAS organization works hard to establish itself as the voice of Massachusetts Muslims. But not all Muslims are happy about the "Muslim mafia" and their monopoly on leadership in local Islamic organizations. If it's true that Ms. Akbar is going to simply assume a vacant chaplain position at Wellesley College, then it appears that the ISB/MAS is further spreading their tentacles, putting their people in positions of power at prestigious local colleges. Is this some sort of dynasty?
Why woulnd't Wellesley publicize this position in the open job market? Why wouldn't the MAS/ISB send out an e-mail announcement of this vacancy at Wellesley? They send out job openings - both religious and secular - all the time, but I've not heard a peep about the vacancy at Wellesley. Is Ms. Akbar the most qualified person for this position? Why doesn't the college advertise and have an open competition? Who funds that position? Are there requirements for a transparent hiring process - with equal opportunity for all - in hiring chaplains at Wellesley?
"Who funds that position?"
That's the crux of the issue. Watch for endowments.
Posted by: Shawmut | September 04, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Yes, who funds that position?
But isn't it the responsibility of the Wellesley College to inform the parents of prospective students that "they will be subjected to ISB/MAS" ideology.
Practice of one's religion and being immersed in an ideology (unknowingly)is a responsibility that Wellesley needs to study and have open debate about it. Were there oppressive practices before? Did Wellesley find out?
Posted by: Azzam | September 06, 2008 at 08:20 PM
FYI:
Here is more to add:
http://thenaturaltruth.blogspot.com/2007/01/meninos-mosque-welcomes-whack-job.html
It's all happening right under our nose. I am not surprised at all, for this is elite MA. It wouldn't bother me so much if those who support this would be the only ones affected. But someday, I fear everyone will pay a dear price for this. Not only here, but throughout the US.
Posted by: oneTruth | September 16, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I think we are paying the price already. We are already seeing more and more people are turning to Islam. -see http://islamicsupremecouncil.org/MediaCenter/IntheNews/wtc_tragedy/palazzi.htm
it clearly states in a paragraph that majority mosques are controlled by extremists.
Posted by: Aaron S | September 23, 2008 at 03:55 AM
sorry I posted an out of date link - here is the correct one.
http://www.amislam.com/kabbani2.htm
Posted by: Aaron S | September 23, 2008 at 03:56 AM