5 concerned members (Br. Muhammad Mahdi, Br, Muhamad Shabbir, Br. Ahmad Chagani, Br. Mohammedraza Panjwani & myself) met with the KSI Jamaat board members yesterday (Friday 24 Aug 2012), including an expert in CCTV solutions.
The board members were very cordial and kind and received us very well.
We tabled our motion that a separate control room be established inside the ladies imambargah from where the rotating camera on the ladies side can be controlled. In this way, the weakness and risk of abuse of the current system will be eliminated.
After due deliberations including:
1. Vulnerability of the current system
2. Technical, practical and financial viability of making a separate control room to control the ladies cameras
There was general consensus that :
1. The current systems were prone to abuse should anyone decide to take advantage of its weaknesses.
2. A separate media room would be technically (thanks to expert advice of the cctv professional present), practically and financially viable.
The office bearers however requested time so that they could
1. Approach and discuss the matter with Sheikh Alidina (to find out if with its current weakness the system is sharia-compliant or not).
2. Approach and discuss the issue with the LMC to assess if they or any ladies have any issues with the current system.
3. Deliberate the matter among themselves before reaching a decision and informing us.
Upon requesting a time frame we were assured they would deal with the matter as fast as possible but they can not give a time-line as the jamaat has many other things to deal with as well. However we were told that we would be kept up to date an be informed of progress in 2 weeks time. However, Azimbhai assured us that the Jamaat will come to a speedy resolution after taking into considerations the weakness of the system and religious sensitivities of the members they are serving.
We informed the board that the chairman of media room team had also recommended a separate control room for ladies.
We were told that because the Jamaat has so far not received any 'official' complaints about the cameras on the ladies side and therefore are not convinced that the jamaat members have any problems with it.
I would therefore like to request all those who are concerned about the potential abuse of the cameras to personally approach/email any of the office bearers (listed below) to 'officially' register their concern. This way jamaat will be able to know if the members are truly concerned or not.
President: Shirazbhai Walji
Vice President: Azimbhai Dewji
Secretary: Zulfikarbhai Chandoo
Jt. Secretary: Kauserbhai Jeraj
emails:
management@ksijdar.org
secretary@ksijdar.org
[Please send a copy of your email to petition[at]ask.or.tz so that we can also be aware of your email. If you contact any of the jamaat officials in person or by phone, please also inform us via email or post in this forum]
Ladies can also contact any member of the LMC, so that the LMC can 'officially' register their concerns to the Jamaat office bearers.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the office bearers for their time and attentive ears which they kindly accorded us.
Jazakallah khair.