For an update on this statement, please go to American Muslims of the Shia tradition - 2nd statement.

Letter of Endorsement
American Muslims of the Shia Tradition - 1st Statement

NEW YORK DECLARATION OF AUGUST 20, 2003

The undersigned ulema and community leaders, representing American Muslims of the Shia tradition, endorse without reservation the nomination of Dr. Daniel Pipes to the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Agha H. Jafri, Spokesman
Universal Muslim Association of America

Syed Mohammad Hijazi, President
Islamic Institute of New York
Woodside, NY

Sheikh Fadhil al-Sahlani, President
Al-Khoei Islamic Center
Jamaica, NY

Sheikh Mohammad Sadiq Khadem, Chairman
Islamic Guidance Center
Brooklyn, NY

Sheikh Mohammad Sarwar, Director
Islamic Seminary
Huntington, NY

Hujjat-ul-Islam Syed Zahir Ul-Hassan
President, Al-Mustafa Foundation
Hartford, CT

Parvez Shah, MD, President
Universal Muslim Association of America
Burtonsville, MD

Nazish Agha, Chief Counsel
Universal Muslim Association of America

Jaffar Naqvi, President
Muslim Foundation, Inc.
Franklin Township, NJ

Abid Jafri, President
Jaferia Counsel
Flushing, NY

Istafa Naqvi, President
Jafaria Association of North America
Brentwood, NY

Dr. Imdad Imam, President
Fatima Islamic Center
Albany, NY

Masood Mirza, MD, President
Society for Humanity and Islam in America
Brooklyn, NY

Hujjat-ul-Islam Dr. Sakhawat Hussain, President
Al-Mehdi Foundation
Philadelphia, PA

Syed Nawab Agha
American Muslim Congress
Elizabeth, NJ

Syed Tanseer Raza
President, American Muslim Youth
Valley Stream, NY