Before i summarize the concerns discussed during the meeting (br. Muhamad has already provided a concise summary), i would like to personally thank:
- The members of the community (and Ask members) who being concerned about the potential abuse of cameras, discussed the matter and initiated a process that led to a joint meeting to discuss the same concerns with the media room team. Especially those who took the time to attend the meeting.
- The media room team especially the six members who met with us for the akhlaqi manner by which they have dealt with the constructive criticism and new ideas presented by the community members and youth.
- The Jamaat President Br. Shiraz Walji for taking the time to personally visit the media room
I hope that future discussions and ideas are discussed and dealt with in the same mature and ethical manner.
Summary minutes of the meeting
In attendance
6 members of the media room team including the head of the ladies team
6 - 7 members from the community
Date: 31 Dec 2011
Time: 9:20pm
Venue: the outside room of the media room.
The main concern of the members of the community was
'the potential abuse of a system whereby a rotating camera (dome camera) and fixed cctv cameras that are controlled from a room that is accessible by gents while it has abilities to switch on and control the cameras in the ladies imambargah'
The members of media room team presented the following points which
each and every one of them confirmed and vouched with their personal guarantees:
- 3 dome (rotating) cameras are installed in the masjid and imambargahs. 1 in ladies imambargah and 2 in gents side (main masjid and imambargah). Only 1 such camera is installed in Mehfil.
- These three cameras are linked to the media room via cables ending in a pin for each camera. Mehfil camera is not linked to the media room in the masjid.
- The media room currently owns only one camera controller which has only one input.
- Therefore only input from one of the 3 cameras can be viewed by anyone in the media room at any one time.
- Br. Lalji revealed that from the moment the pin from one of the dome cameras in plugged into the camera controller, it takes 30 minutes for the image from the camera to be viewed in the media room. The rest of the members present confirmed this.
Several scenarios were then discussed, taking into consideration the 30 min gap as a security measure:
- In other words, if anyone wanted to view the ladies Imambargah, say while the Majlis from Mehfil-e-Abbas was being relayed (FROM 8PM - 9PM), they would have to ensure that the pin for the gents Imambargah camera is put in the camera controller 30 minutes before it needs to relay images to the screens. So they would have to input the cable from the ladies Imambargah at 7:30pm to be able to view an image from ladies Imambargah at 8pm. That would give him 15 minutes to view as by 8:15pm he would have to plug in the cable from the camera in the gents Imambargah so that it can start working by 8:45pm.
- During Dua Kumayl on Thursdays, the ladies coordinator said it was possible for the camera in the ladies side to be switched on since all that is being relayed on the screens would be the Dua slides. However, she said that abuse at that time was not possible because the ladies would not be in the ladies Imambargah but in the upper Masjid where there are no cameras.
- The members inquired of the team that as per their knowledge of the systems, how about abuse at other times where the screen is not being used (for example niyaz etc). They said that the safeguard was that the keys were not with every member. Only reliable members had keys.
- They said that the Jamaat and the media room team have had the same concerns. So when the Jamaat appoints the team members and those who will have keys, they ensure they are reliable and would not abuse the system.
- In addition a ladies team led by the ladies coordinator is present in the ladies only events such as the Majlises in the evenings. If the ladies team face a technical problem that they cannot solve, they call in the gents. But before the gents enter the media room the ladies team ensure the monitors are off. The ladies coordinator confirmed and guaranteed this procedure.
- We asked if the dome camera in the Mehfil-e-Abbas can be controlled from the media room. They said that it cannot be controlled from the media room in the Imambargah. it can only be controlled from the media room in the Mehfil. So ladies attending Majlises in the Mehfil need not be concerned about being viewed by anyone in the media room of the Masjid.
- We asked if the equipments have an ability to record from the cameras. They agreed that the equipment could record but said it is only used to record gents events. The ladies coordinator said there would be no point in recording the ladies events or Majalises since the only input is of video (minus the audio). The audio link is taken from a PA system installed in the outside room of the media room.
- Considering some weaknesses that can lead to potential abuse in the future (such as dependence on the reliability of future key holders and acquiring of equipment that can be abused such as a controller with multiple camera inputs), again the media room team reiterated that the people holding the keys are reliable and Jamaat takes that risk into account when appointing them. These risks are also considered when buying equipment such as camera controllers.
- We inquired whether, to eliminate any chance of abuse, if the dome camera can be removed from the ladies side. The ladies coordinator responded that they needed the camera for functions such as dramas, stage programs, graduations, qasidas etc.
- We asked if that's the case, how about rewiring the dome camera in the ladies side to a room in the ladies Imambargah only accessible to the ladies. They said it was not practical as the wiring and changes required would be a lot of work and an additional unnecessary cost.
- The media room team also informed us that the Jamaat President, Br. Shiraz Walji had paid an unannounced visit to the media room to see the systems at work. He had asked to see the image from the cctv that shows the zarih in the ladies imambargah (the one Br. Muhamad had seen) once the screen has been lifted. He asked the image from that cctv to be put on the large screen. They said he found it blurry and without any problem. The chairman of the media room team said that camera had been left blurred on purpose for the last 6 years.
- The chairman of the media room team said despite the notice restricting entry on the media room door, they never close their doors. Anyone can enter freely and several people do. Anyone who wants to go see how the equipment work can do so when the media room is open. The ladies can also visit the media room during ladies only events as a ladies team is in the room then.
- The meeting ended on a light note and reconfirming the fact that we were all jointly concerned about the abuse of the cameras and working towards the same goals. All of us appreciated the amount of hard work that the media room team puts into doing some excellent work like the dua translations.
- Some of the media room team members showed concern that the community members started discussing their concerns on Ask (the open internet) instead of talking to one of the media room team members or taking the concern to the Jamaat instead.
- We pointed to the fact that some members present that day and concerned about potential abuse, had never even posted in this discussion. This proved that several members have these same concerns. If one of us had gone with the concerns to the media room team and had been told all the above, it would have stayed between him and the team. This may have led to such a discussion in the future. Through this discussion the larger community can be made aware of the precautions the media room team and Jamaat are taking to ensure the integrity of the systems, both in the present and those who will read this discussion in the future.
- We also assured the team that the discussion was in good faith and the concerns valid stemming from a lack of information on how the systems work. The media room team floored an idea of perhaps being available during the Annual General Meeting to report their work and take questions from the floor.
- The media room team was concerned that not everyone who has these concerns or has followed this discussion will know all their responses especially since this discussion has created a negative feeling about the media room. We assured them that a summary of the meeting will be posted in the same discussion
- The media room team is following this discussion and is expecting further queries. If you do have any follow up questions or need more information please respectfully ask the same here. Ladies can contact Sis. Fatim Somji.
If need be, we can compile any such relevant follow-up questions and request the media room to respond to the same.
If I have missed anything please do let me know.