PETITION TO STOP THE SALE OF 62-70 HOWARD STREET, IRVINGTON NJ

With Allah’s Name, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer

PETITION TO STOP THE CLOSURE AND SALE OF 62-70 HOWARD STREET, IRVINGTON, NJ

We the undersigned members of the Muslim Community do hereby voice our strong objections, we protest and place forward before the public our appeal to “STOP” Waris Associates Incorporated’s majority board decision to close and publicly sell 62-70 Howard Street, Irvington, New Jersey 07111.

 
It was we, the members of the Muslim Community, who donated the required funds to Waris Associates Inc., a 501c3, not-for-profit corporation, for the expressed purpose of purchasing the facility to establish Waris Islamic Cultural Research and Development Center, now known as Waris Cultural Research and Development Center.  The overwhelming majority of the financial funds donated to purchase the property was solicited from and contributed by members of the Muslim Community who intended to establish a Muslim community center for housing its masjid, educational, cultural and religious duties and expressions as well as spiritual, social, and educational contributions to the public well-being.

 
Those members namely; Isa I. Muhammad; Craig Drinkard; Donald Akhtab; Abdul Karim Muhammad; and Jesse Jones comprise the board members who now seek to sell the property. These members of the current Board of Waris were either not active, not members, or opposed the initial purchase of the property until the community had collected sufficient funds for its purchase.   We demand consultation prior to any proposed sale and input from the community donors along with notice of how any proceeds shall be used.  There has been no transparency with respect to the sale of the property.  These board members have held secret meetings at which they voted to reject and remove the dissenting votes of the original founders and board members; W. Deen Shareef; and Rahjan Nassiruddin. These two board members have for years repeatedly appealed to Waris Associates Inc. to consult the community regarding its finances and facility concerns. Waris Associates Inc. now claims it has insufficient funds to keep the facility open and has advised Masjid Waarith ud Deen Inc. that it will close the facility and displace the believers of the Muslim Community by September 30, 2014.

 
We the contributors of the Muslim Community who made the initial purchase possible, along with the Community of Believers sign this petition to “STOP THE SALE AND CLOSURE” by Waris Associates Inc. of 62-70 Howard Street, Irvington, New Jersey until proper, just, and reasonable terms are resolved to (1) extend the terms for the Muslim Community members and Masjid Waarith ud Deen to remain in the facility and (2) clearly identify how and what portion of the proceeds of the sale Waris Associates Inc. will distribute to Masjid Waarith ud Deen Inc. who is the non-profit organization representing the interests of the Muslim Community donors.

Masjid Waarith ud Deen Board of Trustee    Contact the author of the petition