FACE Community Response Toolkit

Table of Contents Why Does This Toolkit Exist?

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Who Is This Toolkit For?

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How Should This Toolkit Be Used?

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Pro-Tips

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Resource Links

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Reading Material

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Step 1: Disseminate The Facts

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Step 2: Approach or Notify Key Stakeholders

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2.1 FACE Institutional Inquiry

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Step 3: Assemble Your Team

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Step 4: Craft Your Objectives

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4.1: Choose Your Tactics

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Templates

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4.2: Choose Tools to Carry Out Plan

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Step 5: Make Project Plan & Execute

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5.1: Publicize Results

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5.2: Follow Through and Follow Up

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Terms and Definitions

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Why Does This Toolkit Exist?

FACE has identified an accountability gap in community leadership and was created to help fill that gap not only on an institutional level, but on an individual level as well. FACE believes community leadership is responsible for maintaining the sanctity of the congregations they serve within the institutions built for them, and that community members must be there to enforce that commitment. In doing so, they create a framework of accountability within their community environments to ensure balance and that no one position or person wields too much power or abuses the power bestowed upon them. When FACE takes steps to enact an accountability measure, most often in the form of an investigation report, there is a need to empower people on the ground to take effective steps to ensure the knowledge provided through the findings is put to effective use. This toolkit is intended as an instructional guide for that purpose.

Who Is This Toolkit For? FACE developed this community organizing toolkit for both community members and leadership, and for anyone with a desire to hold their institutions, and those in positions of power, to the highest standards in demanding healthy and safe communal environments. It is important to make sure that those who prioritize the safety of vulnerable people and the community at large, over the protection of institutions and individual reputations, know how to make their voices the loudest and longest-lasting. This toolkit was created with them in mind to build effective strategies that pressure and guide leadership in the right direction.

How Should This Toolkit Be Used?

This toolkit should be used in the event that: ● Abusive or abuse-enabling behavior on the part of leadership, has been discovered and/or covered up. ● FACE has released a report regarding a leader in your community. ● Reputation of the institution or person in power is prioritized over the healing and safety of the victim or potential victims. ● There is pushback from the community and/or leadership in removing an abusive leader from their position of authority. ● A known abusive leader is invited to your institution in a formal capacity.

Pro-Tips ● Purify your intentions. If your intentions are anything other than to please Allah and follow His commandments for justice, walk away. ● Document EVERYTHING throughout the entire process. ● Relational Organizing is essential to success in grassroots mobilizations. ● Don’t get angry, don’t get sad, don’t get hopeless; GET STRATEGIC!

Resource Links Tools: ● The Code - FACE’s Code of Conduct for Community Institutions ● A Code of Conduct to Protect Against Spiritual Abuse – In Shakyh’s Clothing ● Family Youth Institute - Spiritual Abuse Toolkit Muslim Organizations: ● ● ● ● ●

In Shaykh’s Clothing Hurma Project The Family & Youth Institute HEART Peaceful Families Project

Non-Muslim Organizations: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Faith Trust Institute The MAP List Into Account GRACE Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) Buddhist Project Sunshine Bishop Accountability Dove’s Nest A Better Way

Reading Material Handbook of Research on Islamic Business Ethics - Edited by Abbas J. Ali

What is Spiritual Abuse? – National Domestic Violence Hotline

Shame and Silence: Recognizing Spiritual Abuse – GoodTherapy.org

What Do I Do When I Find out my Favorite Preacher is Corrupt? – Shaykh Omar Suleiman

Blurred Lines: Women, “Celebrity” Shaykhs, and Spiritual Abuse – Ustadha Zaynab Ansari

When Religious Leaders Fail – Shaykha Muslema Purmul

What No One Told You about Spiritual Abuse in Islam – Janet Kozak

Healing After Spiritual Abuse – Carolyn Waterstradt MA, LMSW CAADC, CTS

Step 1: Disseminate The Facts When a FACE report has been published, or abuse on the part of leadership has been exposed: 1. Share it! - Use your established community networks and platforms to make sure the report gets into as many people’s hands as possible. If it is only partially published or on limited release, you can use more targeted approaches for dissemination to ensure that the right people have taken the time to look at it.

2. Minimize trauma impact - FACE’s reports sometimes contain very descriptive details to specify the abuse to the extent necessary and are always accompanied by appropriate trigger warnings. FACE always advises staying away from amplifying graphic details of the violations and facts should never be exaggerated. See retraumatization and vicarious trauma for more information.

3. Center the survivors - ALWAYS disrupt any attempts at victim blaming of any kind. The perpetrator and those who enabled the abuse are the focus of accountability. NEVER share a cooperative source or survivor’s identity. Focus on the harm committed by the person who perpetrated the abuse and violated their position of power and trust.

4. Use Social Media Responsibly - Social media is a powerful tool to share information but if used improperly, can be a tool that can easily spread and/or exacerbate trauma.

The most vulnerable are the victims who can easily become retraumatized and targets of harassment and bullying. Here are two resources to read up on to prepare for social media campaigns and things to consider: SAFETY and RISKS.

5. Be Green About It - You may wonder why hard copies of FACE reports aren’t distributed. That is because it can be cost-prohibitive for folks and it is not conducive to the promotion of “green practices” important to the FACE methodology. We ask you to do the same. If you would like an authorized hard copy, you can request them by email at admin@facetogether.org. There is a cost associated.

If there is no FACE report and it is merely information that has been made public: Make sure you are only disseminating information that is FACTUAL and RELEVANT. Any false accusations thrown in the mix will discredit any true and necessary information for the public to know and take action on, and those organizing will lose credibility. Furthermore, you could be at risk for a defamation lawsuit, which would be harmful to all parties, especially victims.

Step 2: Approach or Notify Key Stakeholders Within the community and especially when a religious or community leader has been credibly accused of abuse, it is critical that key stakeholders are approached and engaged directly on this topic by as many people as possible. If you’re a community member that has been made aware of the abuse either through first-hand accounts, public exposure, and/or especially through a FACE investigation report, approach key decision makers and stakeholders as an important step in the process of community accountability. Key stakeholders include administrators, board members, advisors, trustees, prominent donors, other respected leaders of influence, youth leaders, staff and volunteers.

How can this help?

1. On the one hand, if they are not aware of the situation, you are serving an important role in notifying them about the abuse in the first place.

2. If they are already aware, you are leveraging your voice as a concerned community member by letting them know this issue is important to you.

3. You can connect with other concerned individuals to help advance support for this issue.

4. You are also bringing attention to the leaders regarding the safety of the community and reminding them that their decisions regarding the situation are being closely observed.* *If the community remains silent and does not hold decision makers and key stakeholders accountable for their response to the abuse, it reduces the pressure for the administrators of the institution to take comprehensive and effective action in response.

Make sure you know your opposition! These individuals will never see eye to eye with you or will deliberately attempt to subvert your efforts. They are not necessarily bad people; however, if they don’t center victims and hold abusive leaders accountable, their actions are not only harmful, but an added layer of trauma upon the victim(s) and a threat to community safety.

Two things scare people in leadership more than anything. Strategize with this in mind: 1. Loss of funding 2. Reputational impact

2.1 FACE Institutional Inquiry Within Islam, we are commanded to avoid backbiting (gheebah); however, in certain circumstances, speaking about a person’s negative qualities or characteristics, even if they dislike it, is permissible to protect against harm. In observance of this Islamic prescription for community safety, FACE has taken the responsibility of bearing witness to what we know (even though it may not be public) regarding allegations of abuse and misconduct.

Permissible reasons1 for speaking about a person’s negative characteristics: “Warning, such as warning a prospective buyer that the merchant is a swindler, or warning a student that his prospective teacher is an innovator or a deviant. Also, revealing the faults of weak narrators and forgers of hadith, and giving someone a candid appraisal of a person whom the former is thinking of marrying.”

“On the authority of Fatimah bint Qays when she informed Prophet Muhammad

‫ ﷺ‬as to the suitors who had asked about her for marriage, He said, “As for Mu`awiyah, he is a poor man with no money, and as for Abu Jahm, his stick never leaves his shoulder.2” FACE has a new process by which employers and official event organizers (proof of identity and authority required) who are actively vetting specific leaders in consideration for a paid or unpaid professional position, speaking engagement, partnership, award, or other position of influence and trust, may request background information on any candidate as it pertains to credible allegations submitted to FACE regarding that individual’s conduct.

This process will provide the employer the following, should it already exist in FACE records: ● Copies of reports, whether public or not, that detail the findings of FACE investigations into allegations of abuse made against the leader in question. ● Copies of public records, media reports, or announcements regarding allegations, judgements, or other detail as it pertains to the leaders’ conduct and fitness for employment within a communal institution. ● Records of credible allegations made against the candidate in question and relevant details such as a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the allegation’s credibility, the status of the allegation outcome (i.e. is there an investigation open or not and why), or other criteria of concern for the employer.

This service is complimentary but will only be performed for a legitimate representative of the employer authorized to request such information for this purpose.To request a complete report for a person, please send an email to admin@facetogether.org with the subject heading, “FACE Institutional Inquiry."

In the body of the email, include the following: ● Your name ● Your title ● The institution’s name ● Your authorization ● CC one or more institutional representatives ● Their names and titles ● The candidate(s) in question ● The position they have applied for 1 2

https://islamqa.org/hanafi/qibla-hanafi/35696/the-rules-of-backbiting/ https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1869

Step 3: Assemble Your Team An effective team of community members that share your passion and dedication to ensuring a safe community environment is important. Get as many of your peers on board as possible to create a steering committee, following the relational organizing and grassroots organizing model. Have the broadest coalition possible; diversity in all areas is necessary! However, don’t expect that just because you call on people, they will support you. Accept rejection and focus your energy on strategy, not on anger or trying to convince the opposition.

The four categories you want to fill are: ● Steering Committee: These people are the core team of organizers that will plan, drive, and oversee the actions of the team. They are balanced in thought and practice but also dynamic and not opposed to risk. They are the brains and muscle behind the organizing effort. They can either serve in a horizontal leadership capacity or appoint and trust an individual to direct while still observing the process of shura for most decision making. To learn more, visit this page. ● Orators/Writers: These are your spokespeople; they’ll make sure your needs are effectively stated and ensure there is no miscommunication as to what your cause is.

They are articulate, engaging, persuasive, likeable, approachable, sincere, authentic, respected, savvy, intelligent, and facilitative. ● Social Media: These people are especially important in this day and age, and are the ones who will create pages, infographics and help spread the word in the digital space. ● Network Team: These are people who are going to spread information, flyers (if necessary to print) and buzz in the community. They are the people with connections and networks that know how to disseminate and mobilize.

Use this Matrix to fill out the names of all involved and where they’ll be placed within your team:

Step 4: Craft Your Objectives Now that you’ve assembled your team and identified your power players, opposition and decision makers, schedule a meeting time that works best. Then craft your objectives and remember to use SMART goals:

4.1: Choose Your Tactics Here are some suggested options. Be sure to check them off to help ensure everyone knows what’s being done: Write a letter to the board or other officials; make it public Boycott establishment until needs are met Boycott products or services until needs are met (Social noncooperation) Physically protest Initiate a strike* as employees or volunteers Report to officials (e.g. Board of Education, city officials, media) Mobilize around board or committee elections Create a community petition

*Strikes require planning and competent legal advice but are also one of the most effective tools for community change when done right. Review the guidelines on the National Labor Relations Board by clicking this link - https://www.nlrb.gov/strikes

Templates Filing a Complaint: Today's Date Your Name Your Address Mr./Mrs./Ms.______________ [or other title] Organization/Company/Masjid/Institution Company/Masjid Address Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. ________________, (Ingredient #1) [Let the recipient know this is a formal letter of complaint] (Ingredient #2) [State the substance of your complaint as clearly and concisely as possible. Why are you complaining? Avoid using emotionally charged language. Just stick to the pertinent facts.]

(Ingredient #3) [Show why the reasons justify your complaint. What loss did you suffer?

What harm was done? Give amounts, dates, and any other relevant information. Use a positive tone if possible. Angry, rude letters get negative, defensive reactions.]

(Ingredient #4) [State the action you expect the recipient to take. If you believe the recipient owes you a particular response or tangible outcome, say so. Be clear and unambiguous about your expectations for their reply.]

(Ingredient #5) [Request a written reply, by a specific date. Close in a friendly, positive, manner. Assure the reader that you believe he/she will help you. Keep your letter to one page, unless it is absolutely necessary to make it longer.]

Sincerely, Your Signature Print Name Enclosures: CC:

(include professional title below)_____________________________________________________ (such as copies of previous correspondence, receipts, etc.)

(When sending copies to third parties, state to whom they were sent. Do not BCC without notifying to some degree that there are BCC’d recipients on the communication.)

Writing a Letter to Officials:

To the (e.g. Board of Directors, Shura Council etc.): As an active community member of ___________, I am writing to express my strongest concern over _________. ________ would have several negative consequences such as: ________. I know I am not alone in this feeling as I have spoken to other community members who feel the same and have expressed a desire to take action.

In the interest of our community’s safety and the protection and support of victims, myself and the other interested parties listed below, are demanding that the administration __________________ immediately and issue a public statement to inform the entire community. Transparency in these matters is essential to protect against corruption and encourage an environment of trust and accountability.

The administration has always been (insert something positive, if possible, that you know to be true about the committee you’re talking to) and as a result we have confidence that you have the ability to take the right step here.

If we can support you in any way to take the necessary steps to uphold your amana to the community and the most vulnerable among us, don’t hesitate to let us know.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Your Signature Print Name Enclosures: CC:

(include professional title below)_____________________________________________________ (such as copies of previous correspondence, receipts, etc.)

(When sending copies to third parties, state to whom they were sent. Do not BCC without notifying to some degree that there are BCC’d recipients on the communication.)

Establishing a Strike*: To whom it may concern, We, the community of ________ feel as though the needs discussed/outlined _____ have not been met within an appropriate time. Since ______ has refused to meet these needs in good faith regarding changes in ________, we have no other recourse than to begin our strike at (insert time and full date here). We will remain on strike until an agreement is reached that will not penalize the families/community.

As difficult as a strike is on everyone, it is far more difficult for this community that is relying on an upstanding Islamic community. Our case is strong, and we hope to come to a conclusion soon. It is important that we show a united front in this issue that will affect our entire community.

Sincerely, Your Signature Print Name Enclosures: CC:

(include professional title below)_____________________________________________________ (such as copies of previous correspondence, receipts, etc.)

(When sending copies to third parties, state to whom they were sent. Do not BCC without notifying to some degree that there are BCC’d recipients on the communication.)

*Strikes3 can be a very effective way to get both leadership and the public to take notice of your demands.

Striking is legally protected by the National Labor Relations Act. The lawfulness of a strike, which is not always easy to determine, may depend on the object, purpose, timing, or on the strikers’ conduct. Employees who strike fall into two classes: 1) “economic strikers” - who seek to obtain some economic concession such as higher wages, shorter hours, or better working conditions, and 2) “unfair labor practice strikers” - who protest an unfair labor practice committed by their employer. Both continue as employees, but unfair labor practice strikers have greater rights of reinstatement to their jobs.

Strikers who engage in serious misconduct in the course of a strike may be refused reinstatement to their former jobs. This includes violence and threats. A “sitdown” strike (when employees simply stay and refuse to work), is not protected by the law. Examples of serious misconduct that could cause the employees involved to lose their right to reinstatement include physically blocking persons from entering or leaving a struck location, threatening violence against non-striking employees, and attacking

management representatives.

Please consult with a lawyer before engaging in a strike. Download the NLRB Mobile App to obtain information on employers’, employees’ and unions’ rights when organizing a strike.

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Information pulled from the National Labor Relations Board

4.2: Choose Tools to Carry Out Plan Below are some of the tools we use and recommend when launching a grassroots campaign to mobilize for social change within the community. This list is not exhaustive but can definitely help you get started!

Community Toolbox - Provides resources and tools to help people work together to build healthier communities. Learn More.

WhatsApp - Allows users to create groups, send text and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, and other content. Learn More.

Signal - A secure, encrypted messaging service with voice and video calling features and the ability to have messages disappear after a time period. Learn More.

Google Drive - A place to store working documents and make them accessible to various people such as team members, community members etc. Learn More.

Slack - A workspace and instant messaging platform that divides topics of discussion and allows users to create channels to separate topics. Learn More.

Airtable - Can be used to collaborate, manage projects, create spreadsheets, and reach new productivity peaks by organizing information. Learn More.

Zoom - Video chat software that can be used for meetings, allows meetings to be recorded, and stores recordings in the appropriate folder. Learn More.

Change.org - a site to create petitions that can be shared on various platforms and social media. Keeps track of how many signatures a petition has gotten and where the signatures are coming from. Learn More.

NLRB Mobile App - an app by the National Labor Relations Board with information on employers’, employees’ and unions’ rights when organizing a strike. Learn More.

Step 5: Make Project Plan & Execute

Task

Assigned To

Due Date Items Needed

Completed

Notes

5.1: Publicize Results Thankfully, the digital age allows movements to be heard worldwide in seconds. Here are a few tips to ensure you’re keeping transparency within your community: ●

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Send text alerts and messages: When you want to send a message to a large group of people and need a guarantee that it will be read, a text message is your best bet. This could be at the very beginning of your campaign when you are spreading the word. Texts are equally effective when you want to send alerts (change of venue, leadership, etc.) or information (logistics, location, etc.) to confirmed participants.

Zoom calls: Zoom has taken the place of normal phone calls, but people can also phone into zoom meetings! Zoom can also be a great place to publicize results through a town hall format. Zoom also allows you to record the meeting to keep for your records or to stream to social media.

Emails: Petitions, protest appeals, and strikes are often done through emails. They give you ample space to explain your stance, share logistical details and ask for confirmation of support (by signing, donating, filling forms, etc.) and give you a record for if and when those who oppose you question your track record.

Social media: A cost-effective and easy way to reach out to the masses allowing you to connect with supporters beyond your social circle. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are excellent platforms to ignite your movement and spread valuable information in seconds.

Offline conversation: It is essential to take your conversation beyond the screen and phone and on the ground. When it comes to protests, non-cooperation, and strikes, a large-scale offline presence is especially important. Try to be as green as possible but remember, not everyone has access to social media and online platforms. Utilize the people on the ground to ensure everyone knows what’s happening.

5.2: Follow Through and Follow Up Advocacy work is no small feat. Understand that although you’ve made agreements with a number of participants, goals may get pushed back for various reasons. It is also common for there to be a lot of momentum initially during the heat of the outcry, so expect to see people becoming busy with their lives and others trickling off.

To mitigate this, it is crucial to act fast and establish expected timelines immediately so that organizers and participants know how long they will need to stay committed to the project.

Document everything and follow up on expected outcomes. See the vision as a whole and remember the primary goal that was set at the beginning.

Continue to follow up with stakeholders and other participants on their objectives and action items and follow up with leaders who may or may not have responded to your demands.

Establish committees to follow up on the demands and ensure that everything that was documented is stored somewhere secure and referred back to frequently.

Finally, congratulate yourselves on a job well done! Whether or not your demands were met, it is important to celebrate the small victories. Remember to continue purifying your intentions and seeking guidance from Allah projects.

as you move forward and potentially take on other organizing

Terms and Definitions Abuse: To use something to bad effect or for a bad purpose; to misuse. To treat a person, or any living being, with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. This includes but is not limited to physical, sexual, financial, spiritual, emotional, or mental abuse.

Accountability: Obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.

Advocacy: The act of recommending, pleading the cause of another; speak or write in favor of; a set of targeted strategies and actions aimed at decision makers in support of specific policy or programme to address an identified need.

Boycott: To abstain from or act together in abstaining from using, buying, dealing with, or participating in as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion.

Campaign: Any series of actions or events that are meant to achieve a particular result.

Community Organizing: The process of building power through involving a constituency in identifying problems they share and the solutions to those problems that they desire; identifying the people and structures that can make those solutions possible; enlisting those targets in the effort through negotiation and using confrontation and pressure when needed; and building an institution that is democratically controlled by that constituency that can develop the capacity to take on further problems and that embodies the will and the power of that constituency.

Coalition: When members of a group organize to support their side of a particular issue; a relationship over a specific issue; a group formed to pursue a strategy that will be to the advantage of those most directly affected.

Cover-Up: An attempt, whether successful or not, to conceal evidence of wrongdoing, error, incompetence or other embarrassing information. In a passive cover-up, information is simply not provided; in an active cover-up, deception is used. The expression is usually applied to people in positions of authority who abuse power to avoid/silence criticism or to deflect guilt of wrongdoing. This violation can be classified as a misdeed, a breach of trust or duty, or a crime.

Defamation: The oral or written communication of a false statement about another that unjustly harms their reputation and usually constitutes a tort or crime.

Decision Makers: The people who have the power within the institution to make decisions, act on the demands of the people, and affect real change.

Dissemination: To spread or give out to many people, i.e. news, information, ideas, etc.

Diversity: Any dimension that can be used to differentiate people from one another. It’s about empowering people by respecting and appreciating what makes them different in terms of ensuring any and all are represented.

Grassroots Organizing: Bottom-up, rather than top-down decision making, and sometimes considered more natural or spontaneous than more traditional power structures. Grassroots movements, using self-organization, encourage community members to contribute by taking responsibility and action for their community.

Opposition: A body of persons opposing something.

Power players: Those who wield the power in the community whether financially, socially, physically, or otherwise.

Project Plan: A formal, approved document used to guide both project execution and project control.The primary uses of the project plan are to document planning assumptions and decisions, facilitate communication among project stakeholders, and document approved scope, cost, and schedule baselines.

Protest: A public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations.

Relational Organizing: Building power within your own community and sphere of influence. It relies on the power of one’s existing social networks: encouraging people to start conversations with people they know, and listen actively.

SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timebound Spiritual Abuse: To use religion or a position as a religious authority as a justification for abuse or as a tool for conducting abuse.

Stakeholder: An individual, group or organization who is impacted by the outcome of a project.

Steering Committee: Individuals from a lot of different sectors who make sure all relevant voices are heard and can also help teams keep the right perspective when it comes to their projects, stay on budget, and carefully analyze the impact that any changes could cause to the original scope.

Strike: the collective suspension of work, agreed upon by a number of workers with the purpose of reaching a certain end Victim Blaming: When the victim of a crime or any wrongful act is held entirely or partially at fault for the harm that befell them.